Washington D.C., Feb 22, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the nation’s only assisted suicide law gives it the opportunity to protect patients, preserve physicians' role as healers, and send a life-honoring message to the culture, says the Christian Medical Association.
The court is expected review whether the federal Controlled Substances Act should only be used for legitimate medical purposes or, as in Oregon, as a lethal prescription for suicidal patients.
"The Court has an opportunity to insure that patients receive truly compassionate care and pain relief by limiting physicians' use of narcotics for healing, not death," said Dr. David Stevens.
The medical doctor pointed out that the Hippocratic oath asserts a physician’s role is to use treatment to help the sick, never to injure or wrong them.