JUNE 15, 2018    VOL V, NO 12

“Grave consequences” — AMA and Assisted Suicide Update

by Margie Montgomery, Exec. Dir. The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates voted not to affirm the report of its Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) to maintain opposition to assisted suicide, and sent the report back to committee for further review. The CEJA report, online forum and References Committee all recommended that the AMA maintain its position in opposition to assisted suicide. In spite of those recommendations, the House of Delegates voted 56% to 44% for further study. In the interim, the AMA remains opposed to assisted suicide, absent a vote to actually change this position. There will likely be another battle at the next annual meeting in June of 2019. Matt Valliere, Executive Director of the Patients’ Rights Action Fund, released this statement, “The American Medical Association’s decision to not confirm their own

Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs’ recommendation – namely that they maintain their opposition to assisted suicide – does not take into account that this bad public policy puts vulnerable patients at high risk for coercion, mistakes and even abuse. "Although the AMA’s opposition position still stands for now, a referral back to CEJA is a lost opportunity and a failure to stand against a policy that has grave consequences for everyone, but especially persons living with illness, disabilities, or socio-economic disadvantage. Assisted suicide is not medical care. ”

GALLUP rocks the debate!

Latest polls show pro-lifers gaining ground

Gallup announced last Friday a week-long series to begin Monday, June 11, that would document Americans’ latest views on abortion “including deep dives into gender and generational trends.” The article noted that though Americans’ opinions on many social issues like gay rights, pornography and teen sex have grown more liberal, the 2018 survey shows their abortion views have turned more conservative. Monday’s article reported that 48% of Americans identify as pro-choice and 48% as pro-life; half say abortion should be legal in some circumstances, but a little more than half say it is morally wrong. On Tuesday , Gallup reviewed the Sherry Finkbine (thalidomide) case with the statistics of the 1962 opinion poll. Pro-lifers are firm on the disability issue. Many will never understand this, but our consistent stance may be one reason we are winning the debate in certain arenas, and holding our own in general.

The Wednesday article was a blockbuster, stating that six in 10 Americans broadly support abortion rights in the first trimester, but only 28% in the second trimester, and only 13% in the third trimester. Wow! Let’s be sure the Judge presiding over the EMW & ACLU v. Ky “Dismemberment Abortion" trial knows these opinions. On Thursday the Gallup Poll showed that men and women have similar abortion views, though 31% of all women believe abortion should be legal under all circumstances and 26% of men do. Today, Friday , we learn that 56% of young adults 18-29 are pro-choice, 51% of adults 30-49 are, 39% of those 50-64, and 44% of the 65+group. Pro-lifers are the majority in the 50-64 range with 57% and oddly for 65+ the number drops to 52% but that still beats the 44% who are pro-choice. Of adults 30-49, 45% are pro-life and 38% of those 18-29. There is a need for pro-life activism, and our activism is making a difference! Thank YOU!

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