AMA Lists Some Exemptions From ‘Active Euthanasia’ Rule

The American Medical Assn. today reaffirmed its stance against “active euthanasia” but exempted some circumstances in which a doctor could withhold some treatment from terminally ill patients.

The AMA defined active euthanasia as active involvement in speeding the death of a patient with a terminal illness.

“What is termed ‘active euthanasia’ is a euphemism for the intentional killing of a person; this is not part of the practice of medicine, with or without the consent of the patient,” said the report approved by the AMA’s policy-making House of Delegates at its annual meeting.

“Legally, a person who kills another person under these circumstances is guilty of homicide. A motive of mercy is not a defense,” the AMA said.

But the doctors did say there are instances in which a doctor “may permit a terminally ill or irreversibly comatose patient to die by not initiating or continuing treatment that prolongs the dying process.”

This could include withholding medication, respirators and feeding tubes.

The ethical affairs panel that prepared the report said it believes that “withholding or withdrawing of life-prolonging medical treatment or the alleviation of severe pain in a terminally ill or irreversibly comatose patient should not be characterized as euthanasia. The intention is to relieve the patient of the burden of treatment or suffering, not to kill the patient.”