German Medical Association changes their position on assisted suicide.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The German Medical Association have changed their charter by removing the statement: “A doctor may not provide any assistance for suicide.”

People may think that this is a normal reaction after Germany's high court decision, last February, that struck down the nations law prohibiting assisted suicide and stated in their court decision that people had the "right to a self-determined death"

In October 2019, the World Medical Association re-affirmed its position that euthanasia and assisted suicide are unethical acts. 

Just because the high court has ordered assisted suicide to be legalized does not make it ethical for doctors to participate.

According to an article by Derek Scally published on May 6 in the Irish Times:

The federation said it accepted its members’ “individual questions of conscience and no longer want to pursue this as breach of professional obligations”

German Doctors’ Federation president Klaus Reinhardt insisted that, even after the vote, assisted suicide would not become a standard service for his members – a position reflected in a second motion accepted by members.

According to Scally the German Patient Protection foundation  stated:

“It is no wonder that the support for death on demand is rising in a time of pandemic with suffering, loneliness and doubt,”

The German Bundestag next month will debate two assisted suicide legalization bills.