Doctors, steer clear

doi:10.1136/bmj.b3422

Published 25 August 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b3422
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b3422

Letters

Assisted suicide

Doctors, steer clear

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Fortune is naive to believe that "formal legislation to coverphysician assisted suicide and euthanasia will make the situationa lot safer both for people at the end of their lives and forthose caring for them."¹

As a legislator for nearly 20 years, I know the pitfalls oftrying to draft legislation and the consequences of it beingused as a tool to deal with difficult moral issues that requirewisdom and judgment, not legal certitude.

The medical profession is the most toasted of all professionsbecause in the public mind there is no ambivalence as to itspurpose. It is there to treat, cure, and care for sick and disabledpeople. Once lawyers get involved the whole premise changes:bitterness, strife, and serious money take over, families aredivided, and suspicion reigns.

Doctors should steer clear of assisted suicide—or moreaccurately of putting people to death—if they want . . . [Full text of this article]

Julia Cumberlege, former health minister, House of Lords¹

¹ House of Lords, London SW1A OPD

cumberlegej@parliament.uk

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