First do No Harm

The basis for refusal of Physician Assisted Suicide is that it goes against the Hippocratic Oath, that most Drs have followed since the 5th century b.c.  The next words speak of not helping to cause an abortion. 

For some physicians they pick and choose what part of the Hippocratic Oath they will follow. Some Drs feel abortions are okay and some will try to get women to abort when an extra chromosome is detected through an ultrasound or aminocentesis. 90% of women carrying babies with Down Syndrome will abort. Only 10% of the pregnancies are carried to term.

The following lines are from the actual oath............

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and judgement and never do harm to anyone.

I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest such council; and similary I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

Pessary- something put in vagina to cause a miscarriage.

The Hippocratic Oath, the ancient words that guide most physicians and specialists.  The Oath that justifies refusal of some things but other words in this ancient Oath are disregarded.

*In two lines the physician agrees to not discuss or perform Euthanasia or cause an Abortion.

In modern times with modern laws Abortion is allowed and accepted in most cultures. But Physician Assisted Suicide is not in most places. Just a few places in the world allow terminally ill people to check out early. And the places that allows Physician Assisted Suicide, other than Switzerland, are heavily regulated. 

In order to use the Oregon Death With Dignity Act a person must be of sound mind and deemed terminal  with less than 6 months to live.  The patient must be at least 18 and a resident of Oregon. The patient must make 2 oral request 15 days apart before the prescription can be wrote. By following the guidelines all liability is removed from the physician and those assisting. Montana and Washington have similar laws.

In Switzerland the rules aren't as strict.  In order to use Dignitas services you must become a member and membership fees. After receiving the initial Green Light 71% never contact Dignitas again.

The evaluations and discussion of Physician Assisted Suicide goes against the Hippocratic Oath as does the act of assisting. Abortion does too but when a child is thought to have a genetic or chromosome issue the Dr encourages the mother to end the pregnancy. If the mother continues the pregnancy the child is often denied medical care at birth to hasten death.  Some Drs feel it is unethical to try to extend the life of the kids born with extra chromosomes in cases like Trisomy 13 and 18.

Every Dr learns the Hippocratic Oath but very few follow it all of the time.....