Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
California Medical Association Reverses Position On 'Aid-In-Dying' Legislation
The Sacramento Bee: California Medical Association Drops Opposition To Assisted Suicide
Reversing a long-standing aversion to letting doctors assist in a patient’s intentional death, the California Medical Association has dropped its opposition to a California bill allowing terminally ill people to take their lives with prescribed drugs. (White, 5/20)
The San Jose Mercury News: Physician 'Aid In Dying': California Medical Association Removes Opposition To Bill
Setting a nationwide precedent that might influence other states, the California Medical Association on Wednesday announced it has reversed its decades-long opposition to legislation that allows physicians to help seriously ill patients end their lives. (Seipel, 5/20)
Nexstar Broadcasting: Cal Medical Assn. Changes Aid In Dying Position
The California Medical Association (CMA) has become the first medical association in the nation to change its stance on physician aid in dying also known as physician assisted suicide. In a release, CMA said it eliminated its historic opposition and is now neutral on the matter. (5/20)
In related news -
Kaiser Health News: Facing Death But Fighting The Aid-In-Dying Movement
Stephanie Packer was 29 when she found out she has a terminal lung disease. It’s the same age as Brittany Maynard, who last year was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Maynard, of northern California, opted to end her life via physician-assisted suicide in Oregon last fall. Maynard’s quest for control over the end of her life continues to galvanize the “aid-in-dying” movement nationwide, with legislation pending in California and a dozen other states. (O'Neill, 5/20)
