Indiana Medical Association opposes assisted suicide.

Alex Schadenberg

Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The Indiana State Medical Association formally opposes assisted suicide after a debate at their annual convention last weekend. According to ABC 21 Alive in Indiana:

The Indiana State Medical Association says the topic was debated at the annual convention. The association says this was by far the most debated resolution discussed. So much so the meeting went well over the scheduled time due to the many physicians that wanted to speak out against the practice.

The ABC news report continued:

... proponents of the practice said it would decrease healthcare costs at the end of life. They also said it would help patients who commit suicide to die in a more peaceful manner. 

Opponents of the practice said medical professionals should focus on providing care and comfort, not be a source of lethal drugs. They also suggested the practice might lead insurance companies to lean towards lethal drugs over treatment due to cost.

The American Medical Association (AMA) policy on assisted suicide states:

Physician-Assisted Suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physicians role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks.

Sadly many physicians consider a cost/expense analysis when making life and death decisions. 

Thank you to the Indiana State Medical Association for deciding to provide care and comfort for their patients and not prescriptions for lethal drugs.