Vermont seeks doctors' voices on suicide

Members will vote on the medical society's policy on assisted suicide.

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. Nov. 10, 2003.

The Vermont Medical Society was expected to vote on proposed changes to its physician-assisted suicide policy but, when only 84 of its 1,400 members came to the October meeting, those present decided to settle the issue by a mail-in referendum with ballots being counted Nov. 12.

Members can select between a resolution reaffirming current policy of being opposed to assisted suicide but being against any law for or against the practice (it's feared that a ban would have a chilling effect on palliative care), or a resolution calling for a neutral stance (which some interpret as being for the practice).

"I think this is a significantly contentious issue, and I think it's a good idea to have it voted on by the entire membership," said John Fogarty, MD, a VMS policy council member and family physician at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

Dr. Fogarty said he would vote to reaffirm the present policy. He said the Oregon Medical Assn. is the only state medical society to ever take a neutral position on assisted suicide, and that move was followed by citizens voting to legalize the practice.

Carmer Van Buren, MD, a retired internist from Shelburne and assisted-suicide supporter, submitted the neutral-position resolution. He said Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas attended the VMS meeting and told doctors the state was looking to them for guidance.