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Frederick R. Abrams, MD
University of Colorado Denver

JAMA. 1990;263(9):1197.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Without condoning a reflex dispensing of lethal medications, I would nevertheless offer these counterpoints to the thoughtful article by Dr Orentlicher¹ entitled "Physician Participation in Assisted Suicide."

If, as he states, "a physician provides medical care for two reasons: to sustain life and to relieve suffering," it is clear that when these two worthy goals conflict, it is the patient's right to choose which alternative further medical intervention ought to serve. All of the caveats about what the patient might infer from a physician's acquiescence to assist suicide are well taken. However, they address no new duties for a physician who must always consider the results of his or her actions and words on a patient. Should the patient reject suicide, Dr Orentlicher asks, "Will the patient have the same degree of confidence in the physician's commitment to his or her care as previously?" It is . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Footnotes
Edited by Drummond Rennie, MD, Deputy Editor (West), and Don Riesenberg, MD, Senior Editor.

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