Assisted-suicide vote sends mixed message

Vermont physicians approve two seemingly inconsistent resolutions.

By Andis Robeznieks, amednews staff. Dec. 1, 2003.

In a recent mail-in ballot, members of the Vermont Medical Society voted to maintain their policy opposing any legislation regarding physician-assisted suicide. However, they also voted to take a neutral stand on the issue.

Members of the VMS policy council are scheduled to meet Dec. 2 to try to interpret the results.

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"We can't say we oppose these laws and then remain neutral," said VMS President James K. O'Brien, a Winooski-based cardiologist.

About 51% of the members mailed back the ballot, which asked them to vote on two separate resolutions. One called for the society to maintain its policy opposing any legislation either for or against physician-assisted suicide. The other, which was proposed by assisted-dying advocates, called for the society to take a neutral stance. The first was approved 522-175. The second was also approved, but by a much narrower margin: 348-340.

"Obviously, there was confusion," Dr. O'Brien said. But "about 75% of the people clearly said we don't want the Legislature getting involved with this issue."

"It's up for grabs," said Richard C. Austin, MD, a sponsor of the second, neutral resolution. "But even if it fails, we feel we've accomplished a lot by bringing up important end-of-life issues to the public."

The issue was originally scheduled to be resolved Oct. 17 at the VMS annual meeting, but it was decided that such an important policy decision needed more input than the 84 members in attendance could provide, and a mail-in ballot was called for.

The society's policy to oppose all assisted-suicide bills was approved in 1997. It argues that permitting the practice could hurt palliative care, while banning it may negatively affect pain treatment.

The second resolution called for recognizing the strong opinions held by members on both sides and stated that a neutral position would honor the diverse beliefs of VMS members.

The society mailed out 1,497 ballots and received 769 back. Seventy-two members either voted to abstain on the first resolution or left the space blank, and 81 voted to abstain or did not vote at all on the second resolution.