Posts Tagged ‘Physician-Assisted Suicide’
Testimony: Michael H. Clark, MD
Testimony of Michael H. Clark, MD
Against LD 1313
An Act to Enact the Maine Death with DignityAct
The “H” in Hospice Stands for “Hope”
When I asked him if there were any other hopes he had at this stage of his life, he just shrugged and said, “Nope, all my hopes are in you guys – the medical profession.” He died three weeks later tragically clinging to tomorrow’s news.
Read MoreA Biblical Perspective on End of Life Issues
How should Christians come to the end of life? What is the appropriate use of technology to prolong life? How can we assure that when our time to die comes we will do it in answer to the call of God rather than because all of the technology of modern medicine has been exhausted?
Read MoreStanding Against Physician-Assisted Suicide in Family Medicine
The American Academy of Family Physicians’ (AAFP) Congress of Delegates recently voted during their annual meeting to change their Hippocratic position on assisted suicide to a position of “engaged neutrality.” In this week’s blog post, Dr. David Stevens discusses how dangerous this decision is, and what you can do to get involved.
Read MoreHow Big Are Your Rocks?
Did you have a sling shot when you were a kid? I did, and I used to pick up rocks and pebbles from our driveway to use as ammunition when I plinked tree trunks, scared birds away from eating our garden and knocked cans off a stone wall.
Read MoreCouncil on Judicial and Ethical Affairs
Compassion & Choices uses every trick in the book to get physician-assisted suicide legalized in individual states, and they never give up. They fund polling with leading questions in the vein of, “Would you like to die in terrible pain hooked up to a machine by doctors who won’t let you die or should physicians aid you in dying?” They then tout the results as overwhelming support for the legalization of physician-assisted suicide to the media and anyone else who will listen.
Read MoreCalifornia Judge Overturns Assisted Suicide
Bristol, TN–The nation’s largest faith-based organization, the 19,000-member Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA, www.cmda.org), today hailed a California judge’s ruling in its lawsuit against assisted suicide in California.
Read MoreLessons Learned: Facing Physician-Assisted Suicide
Dr. Rachel B. DiSanto shares how she learned how to stand up for Christian principles in the fight against physician-assisted suicide in this article published in the spring 2018 edition of Today’s Christian Doctor.
Read MoreChristian Doctor’s Digest – February 2014
Discussions with Walt Larimore, MD about his book Ultimate Guy’s Body Book, with Kennon Vaughn about evangelism through Downline Ministries, and an update on Physician Assisted Suicide in Montana with David Hafer, DDS.
Read MoreChristian Doctor’s Digest – January 2018
In this month’s episode, Dr. David Stevens chats with Laurence G. Worthen about physicians and dentists who share a common goal to fully integrate their Christian faith with professional practice and an update on Physician-Assisted Suicide in Canada. Also, Nathan D’Jiim discusses his work for the Lord.
Read MoreThe Effect of Legalizing Assisted Suicide on Palliative Care and Suicide Rates
Rebuttal article published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute in response to Compassion & Choices claim that Medical Aid In Dying laws have improved palliative care.
Read More10 Reasons DC Assisted Suicide Should Be Overturned
Eleven members of the District of Columbia Council decided in November 2016 to legalize assisted suicide, paving the way to providing DC citizens with lethal pills to kill themselves. Because assisted suicide represents a deadly danger to vulnerable patients, to the medical profession and to society, Congress is moving to overturn the DC law through a disapproval measure-a seldom-exercised authority but an imperative action with lives at risk.
Read MoreCMA Letter to Congress on DC Assisted Suicide
Christian Medical Association letter on behalf of our members opposing “The Death with Dignity Act of 2015.” Supporting document is pending publication.
Read MoreEngage Your Government
By the time you read these words, America will have finally chosen a new president after seemingly endless years of primary races, campaigning, debates and grudge matches pitting candidate against candidate. Chances are, whether you voted for the eventual winner or not, you shoulder at least some measure of concern for the future of our country.
Read MoreHealth Professionals Ask Court to Stop Vermont from Forcing Them to Help Kill Patients
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys asked a federal court Monday to stop Vermont officials in two state agencies from forcing conscientious health care professionals to help kill their patients while the lawsuit of those professionals proceeds.
Read MoreSlip Sliding Away: Death By Organ Donation
Proponents of physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia adamantly maintain the slippery slope does not exist. The U.S. is not like the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and now Canada, they claim. They point out how well assisted suicide is working in states here.
Read MorePolitical Parties Contrasted on Life Issues
Both major political parties recently issued new platforms that communicate contrasting core values to the American people. Following is a breakdown of where each party stands on the life issues of particular concern to readers of this blog: abortion, sex education, embryos and stem cell research and assisted suicide.
Read MoreThe Court of Last Resort
Though I have two in my extended family, I never wanted to be a lawyer. But I admit, I have desired more legal knowledge over the last few months as CMDA has taken legal action as a last resort to deal with threats to our members and our patients.
Read MoreAlliance Defending Freedom Files Suit on Behalf of CMDA
Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed suit in federal court against officials in the Vermont Board of Medical Practice and the Office of Professional Regulation on behalf of health care professionals who wish to abide by their oath to “do no harm.”
Read MoreStudy Overshadows AMA Recommitment Opposing Physician-Assisted Suicide
At the recent American Medical Association (AMA) Convention, the organization reaffirmed their stance opposing physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia which appears in their Code of Medical Ethics. The Code of Medical Ethics offers guidance to help physicians meet the ethical challenges of medical practice.
Read MoreAssisted Suicide Trend Portends Thousands of Deaths
“In the past two years the number of deaths as a result of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon has nearly doubled,” said Ryan T. Anderson, who researches and writes on physician-assisted suicide at The Heritage Foundation.
Read MoreTennessee Amici Curiae Against Assisted Suicide
John Jay Hooker vs. the State – Brief to uphold the fundamental values of the State of Tennessee, the history and tradition of this State and Nation, and universal, enduring notions of human dignity and to reaffirm Tennessee citizens’ intereste in life, safety, sound public policy and medical integrity.
Read MoreCare, Not Killing: The Most Excellent Way
Calling me over to her bed in the ICU, she fumbled to grasp the lapels of my white coat. With surprising strength she drew me close to her face and said vehemently, “I don’t care what my doctor says, or what my family says, I just want to be kept comfortable until such time as I am no longer alive.”
Read MoreQuestions Arise in Brittany Maynard’s Suicide
The fact that she ultimately took her own life the next day, just 24 hours after saying she wasn’t really ready, is still one of the most perplexing twists in the saga surrounding her life and death. Now, a psychologist who is affiliated with a group working to stop a bill in the legislature in California, Maynard’s home state, from legalizing assisted suicide, is asking some serious question about whether Maynard may have been pressured by her family to commit suicide before she was truly prepared to do so.
Read MorePremature Termination of Life Is Not Palliative Care
Letter to the Editor of CHEST (American College of Chest Physicians) opposing physician-assisted suicide in response to article by Attorney Kathryn Tucker’s article pushing physicians to help patients die.
Read MoreDr. David Stevens Testimony Against Physician-assisted Suicide
It is dangerous for physicians. It wrongly assumes physicians are always ideal moral agents. They are not. I know doctors I would refer my loved ones to, but I also know doctors I wouldn’t let treat my dog.
Read MoreThe Point Washington Update – April 2015
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests.
Read MoreThe Point Washington Update – February 2015
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests.
Read MoreThe Point Blog – February 2015
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this issue: Measles outbreak raising national concerns, The death of physician-assisted suicide in Colorado, and Illinois approves child use of medical marijuana.
Read MoreThe Point Washington Update – January 2015
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this issue: Assisted Suicide, Pro-life march, and Human Trafficking.
Read MoreChristian Doctor’s Digest – November 2014
Dr. David Stevens’ guests on this edition of Christian Doctor’s Digest include John Stonestreet about a thoughtful approach to same-sex marriage, Jonathan Imbody on the healthcare right of conscience and Drs. Charles Smith and John Elsen with a walk down memory lane.
Read MoreThe Point Washington Update – November 2014
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this issue: Ebola death, Pro-life election gains 2015, and Assisted suicide.
Read MoreThe Point – November 2014
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this issue: In this edition: Terminally ill patient ends her life, Tennessee passes abortion amendment, and Public supports quarantine for Ebola health workers.
Read MorePhysician-Assisted Suicide
Dr. Stevens and Kara discuss the recent profile story of Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old woman with terminal brain cancer who supports assisted suicide and plans to end her life on November 1, 2014. In response to Maynard’s plans, Kara challenges the medical community to consider whether or not they are walking away from the Hippocratic Oath by participating in assisted suicide.
Read MoreWhy Physician-Assisted Suicide Should Not Be Legal
The statement above is the foundational moral principle of medicine, pledged by doctors for centuries as they attempt to cure and relieve suffering without injuring the patient. It’s a principle being eroded by the movement to legalize physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia. When combined with an impersonal and technological healthcare system, the movement to support PAS has proven lethal.
Read MoreThe Point Washington Update – April 2014
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this edition of The Point: Researchers harvest stem cells from cloned human embryos, Assisted suicide advocates make their case in JAMA, and SCOTUS hears case on free speech re: abortion in Obamacare.
Read MoreThe Point Washington Update – March 2014
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this edition of The Point: CMDA religious freedom commentary on Fox News, Supreme Court hears religious freedom, contraceptives cases, and Quebec election 2014 may speed euthanasia legalization; doctors protest.
Read MoreTestimony: William J. Lawton, MD
Testimony regarding Massachusetts House Bill 1998, Compassionate Aid in Dying.
Read MoreChristian Doctor’s Digest – October 2013
Exploring difficult situations. Matt Anderson, MD shares his story of being fired for presenting a Christian talk at his hospital and the Right of Conscience battle that ensued. Byron Calhoun, MD discusses perinatal hospice and the difficult journey of losing a child. Then Rob Moll shares from his book The Art of Dying.
Read MoreThe Point Blog – October 2013
Commentary and update on the state of legislative activities in Washington involving CMDA member interests. In this edition of The Point: New Poll Results on Physician-Assisted Suicide, Obamacare May Trigger Exodus of Christian Doctors, and Doctors Look For A Way Off The Medical Hamster Wheel.
Read MoreBracing for Battle and Joining the Fray: State Legislative Campaigns Reach New Levels
An article in the summer 2013 edition of Today’s Christian Doctor that outlines CMDA’s efforts in state grassroots public policy campaigns.
Read MoreThe Point Blog – May 2013
In this edition of The Point: CMDA physicians on human cloning study revelation, Vermont to legalize physician-assisted suicide, Use Of Embryo Donation As A Family Building Option.
Read MoreThe Point Blog – April 2013
In this edition of The Point: Assisted suicide bill set aside, for now, Plan B One-Step without age restriction, and First state personhood amendment.
Read MoreTestimony: Amanda Lucashu
Testimony to the Connecticut Public Health Committee opposing SB 48 to legalize physician-assisted suicide.
Read MoreThe Point Blog – February 2013
In this edition of The Point: Opt-out of the contraception mandate, Problem with Medical Student Debt, and Blind twins euthanized.
Read MoreThe Point Blog – January 2013
In this edition of The Point: Spiritual care rare at end of life, Medical killing in U.S. and Europe, and Free Condoms in Schools.
Read MoreWhat are the arguments against legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia?
This article from Dr. Robert Orr published in the summer 2011 edition of Today’s Christian Doctor focuses on the arguments against legalization of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. It also includes a special tear-out section to help you in protecting life.
Read MoreChanging Hearts about Physician-Assisted Suicide
Dr. Richard Johnson shares his experiences providing testimony in New Hampshire to stop the legalization of physician-assisted suicide in this article from the summer 2010 edition of Today’s Christian Doctor.
Read MoreMontana vs. Baxter
Legalizing assisted suicide would have drastic public policy implications. The question whether some citizens (doctors) should be allowed to kill other citizens (patients) is a decision with profound ramifications for the safety and well being of the whole community, not least its most vulnerable members.
Read MorePreachers of Righteousness
I never planned to be a “preacher of righteousness,” as Peter described Noah in 2 Peter 2:5. It all started a few weeks after I became the CEO of CMDA in 1994. The most common comment from graduate members in those days was, “CMDA was great when I was in training, but what does it do for me now?”
Read MoreApologetics Series: Should Physicians Take Life?
“No one should force their morals on anyone else. It’s my body. Euthanasia is the most merciful alternative. Legislating morality involves religion, a violation of the separation of church and state.”
Read MoreTestimony of Robert Orr, MD
Testimony before House Human Services Committee in opposition to H-44, legalization of physician-assisted suicide.
Read MoreTestimony of Wesley Smith
Testimony opposing physician-assisted suicide before the California Senate Judiciary Committee.
Read MoreChristian Reflections on Dementia
Betty had served God well for years as a missionary in Africa. She was a strong believer and had a passion for the glory of God. At 80 she began to lose things and had difficulty remembering recent events. By 83 she was no longer able to care for her invalid husband and was placed in a nursing home. For the last five years of her life she sat and babbled incoherently.
Read MoreTestimony of Hendrik Reitsema
Testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution by Dutch resident Hendrik Reitsema who lost his grandfather to euthanasia.
Read MoreTestimony of Jonathan Imbody
Testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights.
Read MoreCloning Name Games
Proponents of therapeutic cloning seek to clone human embryos, but don’t want them implanted into women. Instead, they want to use them to produce stem cells that might some day be developed into therapies. These stem cells and resulting tissues would be immunologically compatible with the person from whom they were cloned, thereby overcoming the risk of rejection that plagues tissue transplantation from other people.
Read MoreTestimony of Christopher Hook, M.D.
Testimony offered by Christopher Hook, MD about physician-assisted suicide before a U.S. Senate Briefing regarding the Pain Relief Promotion Act.
Read MoreMinistry Through End-Of-Life Care
A generation or two ago, when medicine was primarily low-tech, a majority of patients died quickly of acute illness, usually in their own homes, cared for by families, neighbors, and church friends. But things have changed. Now, 90 percent of North Americans die slowly from debilitating disease (organ failure, malignancy, dementia, etc.).
Read MoreTestimony of Senator Gordon Smith
Testimony offered by Senator Gordon Smith from Oregon opposting physician-assisted suicide before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Read MoreTestimony of Richard M. Doerflinger
Testimony offered by Richard M. Doerflinger about physician-assisted suicide before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution regarding the Pain Relief Promotion Act.
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