The nation's leading organization of hospice physicians has dropped its opposition to doctor-assisted suicide. The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine has decided to take a "neutral" position on the issue. California lawmakers will soon consider a doctor-assisted suicide bill. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
The Palliative Medicine Academy says state-of-the-art pain management can ease most suffering at the end of life. But the group admits, sometimes unacceptable suffering persists. Dr. Nancy Hutton is on the Academy's board, and is medical director at the Community Hospice of Maryland. She says doctor-assisted death is not the antithesis of palliative care.
Hutton: I think it's taken as a way of providing comfort for unrelieved suffering. And so in that respect, it would be consistent with a palliative care approach.
California lawmakers have rejected the last two attempts to pass a doctor-assisted death measure. Oregon is the only state where the practice is legal.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
