Latest News
June 10, 2008
JUNE POSTING
Oregon Rationing Cancer Treatment but Offering Assisted Suicide to Cancer Patients Paying to Die but not to Live
Imagine your health insurance company will not pay for the expense of beneficial cancer treatment, but will pay for the expense of physician-assisted suicide. Read Dr. Kenneth Stevens' article about two patients who face this dilemma.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL OREGON PHYSICIANS
OMA TO OFFER CME ON PAIN MANAGEMENT
Education Must Be Completed Before Jan. 2, 2009
To help members comply with this new requirement, the OMA will offer comprehensive workshops around the state, including some videoconferencing dates, to assist physicians in fulfilling this requirement before the deadline. Workshop details and locations will be available soon.
As a reminder, ALL licensees of the Oregon Medical Board, except lapsed, telemedicine and teleradiology licensees, MUST COMPLETE a two-part mandatory continuing medical education in the subjects of pain management and/or the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients as follows before Jan. 2, 2009:
- A one-hour pain management course specific to Oregon provided by the Pain Management Commission of the Department of Human Services (course available at http://whalespoken.org/DHS/pain/training.shtml); and
- A minimum of six CME credit hours in the subjects of pain management and/or the treatment of terminally ill and dying patients. Any combination of CME coursework focusing on pain management and/or treatment of terminally ill and dying patients may be used to fulfill this requirement.
For more information on this requirement and a set of Frequently Asked Questions, visit www.oregon.gov/OMB/topics.shtml#RULES_PAIN_MANAGEMENT. For further questions on the requirements, contact Paul Frisch, JD at paul@theoma.org or (503) 619-8000. To be placed on a mailing list with dates and times of OMA’s program, email Jenn Webster at jenn@theoma.org.
May 16, 2008
MAY POSTING
PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE IN OREGON: A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE
by Herbert
Hendin and Kathleen Foley
This Article, published in the Michigan Law Review, examines the Oregon
Death with Dignity Act from a medical perspective. Drawing on case
studies and information provided by doctors, families, and other care
givers, it finds that the seemingly reasonable safeguards for the care
and protection of terminally ill patients written into the Oregon law
are being circumvented. The problem lies primarily with the Oregon
Public Health Division (OPHD), which is charged with monitoring the law.
OPHD does not collect the information it would need to effectively
monitor the law and in its actions and publications acts as the defender
of the law rather than as the protector of the welfare of terminally ill
patients. This paper makes explicit suggestions and is a very thoughtful
review of the Oregon Experience.
April 23, 2008
APRIL POSTING
It is a tragedy that none of the 49 physician-assisted suicide patients in Oregon in 2007 received a psychiatric evaluation.
March 20, 2008
MARCH POSTING
Commentary on recent article published about physician-assisted suicide in Oregon
UPCOMING SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE
Speaker: O. Carter Snead IV, JD
Topic: Healthcare Providers: Conscience and Coercion
Two opportunities to attend in Portland Oregon: April 3 and April 4, 2008
CME Credit available
March 18, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
Limited Information Regarding Physician-Assisted Suicide in Oregon for 2007
February 22, 2008
FEBRUARY POSTING
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition International calls for action on euthanasia movement in Luxembourg
January 24, 2008
JANUARY POSTING
PCCEF announces a "Take the Pledge" campaign
December 27, 2007
DECEMBER POSTING
Five Oregonians to Remember:
Five Oregonians for whom the tragedy of doctor-assisted suicide was all too real
November 20, 2007
NOVEMBER POSTING
PCCEF has serious concerns about the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Board of Director's recent position statement regarding "Physician-Assisted Death."
October 31, 2007
OCTOBER POSTING
10-years of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon - commentary by Dr. Kenneth Stevens.
September 10, 2007
SEPTEMBER POSTING
PCCEF Concerned About Oregon
August 9, 2007
AUGUST POSTING
Assisted suicide legalization is failing: Three major failures of the assisted suicide movement in 2007. Assisted suicide in Oregon remains an anomaly.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide:
Current Issues Future Directions is November 30th - December 1st, 2007 in Toronto, Canada. Plan now to attend this important event. (link to flyer information) (link to website)
July 10, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Nursing board becomes part of the shroud of secrecy enveloping assisted suicide in Oregon.
June 11, 2007
JUNE POSTING
A review of the final report on the 2006 Winston Churchill Fellowship experience of end of life care and assisted suicide in the Pacific Northwest. Please see the PCCEF summary and the original report: "Physician-Assisted Suicide vs. Palliative Care: A Tale of Two Cities" by Dr. David Jeffrey FRCPE.
June 6, 2007
Update on "Dr. Death"- See recent editorial by Rita Marker and Wes Smith about the parole Dr. Kevorkian.
For more information about Dr. Kevorkian (link to website)
May 14, 2007
MAY POSTING
An article written
by Chris Weinkopf , the LA Daily News' editorial-page editor regarding the persistant efforts of California legislator Levine to pass a physician-assisted suicide bill in California.
April 30, 2007
APRIL POSTING
A letter by Dr. William Petty recently submitted to the editor of NEJM in response to a recent article (Curlin et al.) about physician conscience and controversial clinical practices.
March 8, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Physician-assisted suicide in Oregon has become an unspeakable act: comments on the DHS annual report
February 5, 2007
FEBRUARY POSTING
Letter of testimony to the Hawaiian Legislature.
Dr. Bentz submits a letter of testimony to the State of Hawaii's Legislature, specifically the House Health Committee hearing on the Physician-Assisted Suicide bill (HB 675)
January 29, 2007
JANUARY POSTING
A
letter to the California State Legislature by Rabbi Feldman regarding inconsistency in State Assemblyman’s support of physician-assisted suicide while advocating a Holocaust Memorial Week.
December 5, 2006
DECEMBER POSTING
Dr. Charles Bentz, MD, FACP, president of PCCEF, recently submitted this letter to the editor of the Oregonian.
November 2006
In an effort to educate the physicians in Oregon regarding the dangers of participating in physician-assisted suicide, PCCEF recently sent abstracts of these two articles to all physicians in Oregon.
October 23, 2006
OCTOBER POSTING
Last week the Oregon Department of Human Services reported the they will no longer use "physician assisted suicide" to reference Oregonians who have killed themselves under the Death with Dignity Act.
PCCEF is very concerned regarding the influence that proponents of physician-assisted suicide have on the Oregon State Department of Human Services. Read more on our response...
Here are two short articles which PCCEF agrees with in response to this decision.
Oregon Department of Human Services Against Assisted Suicide!
Changing names, changing perceptions.
September 21, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Physicians for Compassionate Care applauds Senate Bill 3788: The Assisted Suicide Prevention Act of 2006
Senator Brownback's introduction letter
Assisted Suicide Prevention Act 2006 S.3788 - a copy of the bill
Click here to view a template for a letter to your Senator
August 30, 2006
AUGUST POSTING
Physician-Assisted Suicide - Oregon - an anomaly; not a harbinger
An editorial paper written by Drs. Stevens, Toffler and Bentz discussing the recent defeat of physician-assisted suicide bills.
July 17, 2006
Dr. William Toffler and Dr. Kenneth Stevens response to the article entitled "The final choice" (Hospital Doctor, 1 June 2006) by Ms. Ann Jackson, Executive Director of the Oregon Hospice Association.
July 12, 2006
MORE ON THE DEFEAT OF CALIFORNIA ASSISTED SUICIDE MEASURE
The recent defeat of the California Assisted Suicide Measure (AB 651) was due to many factors, most notably the efforts of courageous men and women from all corners of Californian society. Many testified before the legislature, and we have included a link to the testimony of Wesley J. Smith, JD, an articulate advocate in opposition to assisted suicide.
June 30, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Vermont Wins A Major Victory in the Battle Against Physician-Assisted Suicide
June 30, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Another Defeat for the Pro-Suicide Movement in California
May 17, 2006
Dr. Miles Edwards, late PCCEF board member, recently published article- Opiods and Benzodiazepines Appear Paradoxically to Delay Inevitable Death After Ventilator Withdrawal.
This article, published in the Journal of Palliative Care, (Vol 21:4/2005, pages 299-302) is one of the first trials showing that appropriate use of morphine in critically ill patients can prolong life as well as provide palliation and is an important contribution to the medical literature
May 16, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Congratulations to the United Kingdom
May 9, 2006
MAY POSTING
For an excellent discussion of the discrepancy between the official reporting
and what is actually happening in Oregon, please see the Report
by the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
May 8, 2006
"First do no harm" a clear line in law and medical ethics An excellent article on Assisted Suicide in the United Kingdom by Professor Ilora Finalay, President Elect of the Royal Society of Medicine. Reprinted from JR Soc Med 2006 99:214-215
May 5 - 7, 2006
HEADLINE
- UPCOMING CONFERENCE
The Central California Guild of the Catholic Medical Association announces its
inaugural event, End of Life Care: A Christian Perspective. Brochure...
April 10 , 2006
Emotional and Psychological Effects of Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia on Participating Physicians. This article, published in Issues in Law & Medicine, Vol 21, pages 187-200, Spring 2006, is a review and evaluation of medical and public literature regarding the reported emotional and psychological effects of physician assisted suicide and euthanasia on the involved physicians.
March 27, 2006
MARCH POSTING
The board and members of Physicians for Compassionate Care celebrate the life of Miles J. Edwards, MD (1930 - 2006) More...
March 9, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Oregon's Assited Suicide Law: The "Medical Killing" of Vulnerable Patients Continues
January 23, 2006
JANUARY POSTING
Physicians for Compassionate Care responds to Supreme Court decision More...
October 11, 2005
The Consequences of Physician-Assisted Suicide an oral and written presentation of Dr. Stevens at a Community Conversation Panel at the the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon on October 11, 2005
October 5, 2005
Why is Oregon Special?, by Kenneth R. Stevens, M.D., regarding the Oregon issue before the U.S. Supreme Court, as published in USA TODAY, October 5, 2005
June 27, 2005
N. Gregory Hamilton and Catherine A. Hamilton,
Competing Paradigms of Response to Assisted Suicide Requests in Oregon, Am. J. Psychiatry, Jun 2005; 162: 1060 - 1065.
June 14, 2005
A written copy of an invited presentation given by Dr. Kenneth R. Stevens, Jr., M.D. to the British House of Lords on June 14, 2005.
June 11, 2005
An amicus brief was filed in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the Physicians for Compassionate Care Educational Foundation entitled Gonzales v. Oregon, U.S. No. 04-623 (2004):363-364
April 25, 2005
Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) physicians have corrected a previously reported erroneous claim that the rate of physician-assisted suicide in Oregon is lower than in other states. Drs. Stevens and Toffler have set the record straight...
April 14, 2005
A written copy of the oral testimony presented by Dr. Kenneth Stevens, M.D., on April 14. 2005, to the Vermont House Human Services Committee Hearing on H-168, a proposal to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Vermont.
February 11, 2005
Testimony of Dr. Kenneth Stevens, M.D. to the Joint Hearing of the California Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-term Care and the Assembly Judiciary Committee on February 4, 2005.
February 5, 2005
A written copy of the oral testimony presented by Dr. William Petty, M.D., on February 5, 2005, to the Hawaii House of Representatives Committee on Health Hearing on HB 1454.
February 5, 2005
An expanded written copy of the oral testimony presented by Dr. Kenneth Stevens, M.D., on February 5, 2005, to the Hawaii House of Representatives Committee on Health Hearing on HB 1454.
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