Wisconsin Medical Society Rejects OKing Assisted Suicide, Pro-Life Group Elated

Bioethics   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 14, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Wisconsin Medical Society Rejects OKing Assisted Suicide, Pro-Life Group Elated

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 14
, 2009

Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) — The Wisconsin Medical Society has rejected a measure that would have had the state medial group on record as supporting the practice of assisted suicide. That’s good news to Wisconsin Right to Life, the statewide pro-life group that says patients, including the elderly and disabled, must be protected.

The Wisconsin Medical Society’s Council on Health Care Ethics has rejected a resolution supporting legalizing assisted suicide in the state.

Should the state legislature adopt the practice, Wisconsin would become the third to do so, following Oregon and Washington, and potentially the fourth if the Montana Supreme Court upholds a lower court decision to allow it there.

Wisconsin Right to Life officials told Lifenews.com they’re delighted by the state doctors group’s move to reject assisted suicide.

"The Council received excellent testimony in opposition to the resolution from disability rights organizations, advocates for patients’ rights organizations and others throughout the nation and Wisconsin," WRTL director Barbara Lyons said.

The physician members of the Council on Health Care Ethics understand that legalized assisted suicide leads to the abandonment of patients and places patients in a situation of increased isolation where they feel pressured to choose death," Lyons continued. "We commend the Council for its rejection today of the resolution."

Wisconsin Right to Life will join other pro-life groups in the state to make sure the Badger State isn’t the next to disturb the protection for patients and doctors.

"Wisconsin Right to Life believes we must guard against those ‘choices’ which victimize the vulnerable, ourselves and society as a whole," Lyons said.

"We must minister compassionately to those who suffer from pain and those who fear death. Doctors should heal, not kill. Society must maintain the healing tradition of medicine," she concluded.

Related web sites:
Wisconsin Right to Life – https://www.wrtl.org
Wisconsin Medical Society – https://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org

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