Re: Respecting a new right

I wish to contribute to the thinking on the developing changes discussed in the COHP article on assisted suicide [BCMJ 2015;57:248-249]. It is usually referred to as “doctor-assisted suicide,” which implies that the doctors will be doing the heavy lifting. My suggestion is that there is already a functioning bureaucracy in place that could/should take the lead here.

I refer to coroner’s officers. They could be in charge of the preliminary paperwork, which would include the involved physician’s opinion and clinical findings. They could discuss with the family and, in the event of a decision to proceed, issue the order for a prescription for fentanyl patches, to be applied by the patient or relatives. Susan Rodriguez would have been happy with such an arrangement.
—John Maile, MBBS
Quesnel

John Maile, MBBS,. Re: Respecting a new right. BCMJ, Vol. 57, No. 9, November, 2015, Page(s) 380 - Letters.



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