Kansas Medical Society Policy Statement

On April 30, 2011, the Kansas Medical Society adopted this statement against physician assisted suicide.  To view a print copy, click here.

ISSUE SUMMARY

Assisted suicide is the intentional advising, encouraging, or assisting another person in the taking of his or her own life, which is illegal in Kansas.  Patient requests for physician assisted suicide should be a signal to the physician that the patient’s needs are unmet and further evaluation to identify the elements contributing to the patient’s suffering is necessary.  Multidisciplinary intervention, including specialty consultation, pastoral care, family counseling and other modalities should be sought as clinically indicated.

ADOPTED ACTION OR POLICY

KMS reaffirms that physician assisted suicide is fundamentally inconsistent with the physician’s professional role as healer.

Adopted by the KMS House of Delegates on April 30, 2011.