The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition signed the Joint Statement Against Assisted Suicide for Eating Disorders
(Link to the Eat Breathe Thrive Joint Statement)
We, the below signatories, urge governments everywhere to take immediate action to address the unethical practice of assisted suicide for individuals with eating disorders. This practice undermines decades of research on effective treatments and endangers the lives of vulnerable individuals.
A recent study revealing at least sixty published cases of assisted suicide and euthanasia among patients with eating disorders in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States, raises significant public safety concerns. A third of the cases involved young people in their teens and twenties, some of whom had never received comprehensive treatment before they were assisted in suicide. This highlights a tragic failure of healthcare systems, legal safeguards, and a grave violation of physicians’ ethical duty to do no harm.
Eating disorders are treatable conditions that require timely and comprehensive treatment. Yet many cannot access care due to cost, inadequate insurance coverage, extensive wait times, and a shortage of specialist services. The notion that they are incurable or terminal is scientifically unsupported and dangerously misleading. The term “terminal anorexia” is not recognized by any formal medical body, has been widely rejected by researchers and clinicians, and represents a profound misunderstanding of these conditions.
A recent study revealing at least sixty published cases of assisted suicide and euthanasia among patients with eating disorders in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States, raises significant public safety concerns. A third of the cases involved young people in their teens and twenties, some of whom had never received comprehensive treatment before they were assisted in suicide. This highlights a tragic failure of healthcare systems, legal safeguards, and a grave violation of physicians’ ethical duty to do no harm.
Eating disorders are treatable conditions that require timely and comprehensive treatment. Yet many cannot access care due to cost, inadequate insurance coverage, extensive wait times, and a shortage of specialist services. The notion that they are incurable or terminal is scientifically unsupported and dangerously misleading. The term “terminal anorexia” is not recognized by any formal medical body, has been widely rejected by researchers and clinicians, and represents a profound misunderstanding of these conditions.
People with eating disorders need access to evidence-based and inclusive treatment, not lethal medications. Poor outcomes, including deaths, are nearly always preventable.We categorically reject the argument that assisted suicide is a form of compassionate care for individuals with eating disorders. Compassionate care involves consistent, effective treatment — not facilitating suicide. Together, we call on governments to act to ensure that every individual with an eating disorder receives the care, compassion, and treatment they need to recover. We urge policymakers, healthcare providers, and the broader community to take immediate action by doing the following:
- Prevent Assisted Suicide for Eating Disorders: Legally prevent eating disorders from being considered qualifying conditions for assisted suicide.
- Strengthen Oversight and Reporting: Ensure reporting on assisted death includes psychiatric conditions. Establish review boards and create clear pathways for members of the public, officials, and healthcare professionals to investigate and report violations.
- Amend Existing Safeguards: Review the existing safeguards on assisted suicide to ensure that eligibility terms like ‘terminal condition,’ ‘mental capacity,’ and ‘irremediable condition’ are clearly and operationally defined by law.
- Increase Access to Eating Disorder Treatment: Invest in improving access to high-quality, timely treatment for eating disorders, focusing on long-term recovery and support.
- Increase Research Funding: Invest in research to develop more effective treatments for eating disorders, particularly for individuals with severe and chronic conditions.
Link to become a signatory (Link).
Further information on this topic:
2 comments:
Instead of helping these people get a Psychiatrist or Psychologist, they offer death. Christian parents should encourage their children to consider the field of psychiatry as a career---but a legitimate school of psychiatry.
Having said that, considering what Jordan Peterson has experienced with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, one has to question if there is such a thing as a legitimate school of psychology anymore!
As a young teenager that was anorexic I was very unhappy and stressed out. After years of poor health I finally decided I wanted to be healthy and happy. I am very grateful for my life now and somehow knew that one day I would be happy. It was worth the wait and I can't believe what is happening now with assisted suicide. These people are vulnerable and being systematically murdered. So sad.
Post a Comment