Charles Bentz, MD: Oregon Hospice Not Safe After Assisted Suicide Legalization

Dear Editor:

I read William Clarke’s guest column with interest, as it addresses both assisted suicide and hospice care. (“Don’t deny ‘death with dignity while improving hospice care,” updated 03/02/16).  I am a doctor in Oregon where assisted suicide has been legal since 1997. Since then, I have observed a corruption of Oregon’s medical profession to devalue patients, especially regarding end-of-life care, such as hospice, which is no longer safe.

Patients, generally, are now starting to fear hospice and medical providers such as myself and my colleagues are now avoiding this particular hospice program.  In my opinion, this corruption of the role of hospice can be directly linked to the practice of physician-assisted suicide here in Oregon.  The American Medical Association, Ethics Opinion 2.211, states:

Physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks.

Unfortunately, here in Oregon, this is prediction is coming true. Keep medicine safe. Tell your legislators to keep assisted-suicide out of Montana.

Charles J. Bentz MD, FACP
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine,
Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics
Oregon Health & Sciences University
Fanno Creek Clinic
2400 SW Vermont Street
Portland, OR 97219