Canadian Medical Association: 71.5% of physicians oppose the legalization of euthanasia or assisted suicide. Doctors should be excluded from doing euthanasia.

By Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director: Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) published the results of its online poll and national dialogue concerning euthanasia, assisted suicide and end-of-life care. 

The CMA consultation report determined that 71.5% agreed with the current CMA policy on euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Death, 25.8% disagreed with its current position and 2.6% were unsure.

The current CMA Policy on Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Dying states, in part:

“Physicians, other health professionals, academics, interest groups, the media, legislators and the judiciary are all deeply divided about the advisability of changing the current legal prohibition of euthanasia and assisted suicide.” 

“Canadian physicians should not participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide.” 

“For the medical profession to … participate in these practices, a fundamental reconsideration of traditional medical ethics would be required.” 

“The CMA recognizes that it is the prerogative of society to decide whether the laws dealing with euthanasia and assisted suicide should be changed. The CMA wishes to contribute the perspective of the medical profession to the examination of the legal, social and ethical issues.”

The consultation report indicated that supporters of the current CMA position cited the following main reasons for their position:

• „„Legalizing medical aid in dying would negatively affect the trust patients have in physicians and would jeopardize the physician–patient relationship.
• The physician role is to heal, not end life.
• „„Legalization is “a slippery slope” and would lead to an increase in the scope of conditions and patient populations for which physician-assisted dying can be applied — especially vulnerable populations.
• „„Legalizing medical aid in dying could be used for economic purposes to save money in the health care system.

The CMA consultation document indicated that physicians should not be involved in the act of euthanaisa. The document stated that since the final decision concerning the legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide rests with society, that if society legalizes euthanasia, that doctors should be excluded from doing euthanasia. The document stated:

The perspective of removing physicians from the equation if physician-assisted dying becomes legal in Canada arose at several public town hall and member meetings. 

“We have no training in killing people, quite the opposite” was how one member framed it. 

“I think that if the law is changed they need to pick on someone else to be the euthanologist. It’s not going to be me and I suspect it’s not going to be most of my colleagues,” said an attendee at one meeting. 

Many felt the CMA should advocate for removing physicians from the process of euthanasia and lobby for some other group to provide these services. 

Many called for the CMA, at a bare minimum, to protect the rights of physicians who do not want to provide euthanasia services, a stance that was adopted at the CMA General Council meeting last August.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition opposes concept of doctors becoming killers and we support the call of physicians to never take part in the act of killing.

Links to similar articles:

• CMA President: Euthanasia is illegal and we are going to follow the law of the land.
• CMA says no to euthanasia.
• CMA delegates oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide.