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Assisted Suicide

Presented on August 27, 1993 Derek Humphry, journalist and author; Susan Tolle, M. D., director, Center for Ethics in Health Care, Oregon Health Sciences University " Long before Dr. Jack Kevorkian developed his suicide machine and began his battle with Michigan authorities over physician-assisted suicide, the issue of whether we have the right to take our own lives has provoked heated controversy and, at times, dominated headlines. Suicide is one of our culture's most divisive taboos, and the debate over allowing terminally ill patients to kill themselves has evolved into arguments among advocates over what role—if any—physicians should play in a patient's suicide. Two experts on assisted suicide will explain their points of view to the City Club in this Friday program. Susan Tolle, M.D., is an internist and director of the Center for Ethics in Health Care at Oregon Health Sciences University. In her discussion, Tolle will clarify the ethical and legal differences between withdrawal of life support and euthanasia, which specifically means physician-administered lethal injection. Tolle will explain the impact of Senate Bill 286, the Health Care Decisions Act, on patients and families who wish to refuse life-sustaining treatment and be comfortable with the decision. Tolle opposes legal euthanasia and has concerns that physician-assisted suicide ""may create greater restrictions on some dying patients who do not fall within narrow guidelines."" Writer Derek Humphry is perhaps best-known as founder of the Hemlock Society, a right-to-die advocacy group. No longer affiliated with the Hemlock Society, Humphry is a best-selling author. The bulk of his writing focuses on the right to die—most notable is Jean's Way, a cult classic about his late wife's battle with terminal cancer and the couple's decision to end her life. Humphry, who is a vice president of Americans for Death With Dignity, will talk about the battle to create a legal right in the U.S. for every competent adult to choose ""a physician-assisted, humane and dignified"" death when she or he becomes terminally ill."