AMA acts on Terry Schiavo-inspired policy (Sanity prevails)

[kskiska]

The politicization of Terri Schiavo prompted the American Medical Association on Tuesday to adopt policy opposing any legislation that presumes patients would want life-sustaining treatment unless it is clear that they would not.

The Florida woman died in March after her feeding tube was disconnected following a long, highly publicized court battle between her husband and parents over whether she would have wanted to be kept alive.

Numerous politicians and judges weighed in on a case that doctors at the AMA annual meeting said should have remained between the patient, her doctors and her family.

Dr. Michael Williams, a Johns Hopkins Hospital neurologist who helped sponsor the measure, said several states are considering or have passed laws that presume patients would want life-sustaining treatment.

"While the (Schiavo) circumstances were heart-wrenching and compelling, they're so rare that they're not a good basis to revise existing law," Williams said. "I wish there had not been politics involved in it and I hope there won't be in the future should similar cases arise."

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http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/21ama.html

[etherealtruth]

1. One can only hope ...

... but with the crazed zealotry of the religious right, I am doubtful that the opinions of ethicists and physicians will prevail.

[Warpy]

2. Well, they're wrong about the judges

because Michael Schiavo wisely turned the case over to the courts at the beginning. It was the court's duty to investigate what his wife's wishes were and what would be in her best interest regarding treatment.

The courts acted as a buffer between him and the parents. He wasn't the one cavalierly yanking her life support because it was time to move on; the courts had determined after a lengthy investigation that pulling the tube was in her best interest and according to her stated wishes.

Yes, this stuff should be decided by the family and doctors and with the input from the hospital ethics team. Technology has advanced to the point that we can prolong death as well as preserve life. Sometimes family members need help in determining just which case is happening.

[still_one]

3. the AMA should take away frist's license to practice medicine