Before The Joint Committee On Judiciary
Good Afternoon, My name is Dr. Lynda Young and I am a
pediatrician from Worcester and the President of the Massachusetts
Medical Society. The Medical Society wishes to be recorded in
opposition to H.3884, "An Act Relative to Death with
Dignity."
At the Medical Society's most recent House of Delegates meeting,
which is the Society's policy making body, there was overwhelming
support to reaffirm the Medical Society's long standing policy of
opposition to physician-assisted suicide. Like the debate
today, there was great passion expressed by both sides on this
issue.
As the AMA's Code of Medical Ethics states, "It is understandable
although tragic, that some patients in extreme duress…may come to
decide that death is preferable to life. However, allowing
physicians to participate in assisted suicide would cause more harm
than good. Physician assisted suicide is fundamentally
incompatible with the physician's role as healer. Instead of
participating in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively
respond to the needs of patients at the end of life… in order that
these patients continue to receive emotional support, comfort care,
adequate pain control, respect for patient autonomy, and good
communication."
What is very clear to all is that there needs to be great
compassion for our patients who suffer from terminal and
debilitating diseases. The Society is committed to providing
physicians treating terminally-ill patients with the ethical,
medical, social, and legal education, training, and resources to
enable them to contribute to the comfort and dignity of our
patients and their families.
Thank you
