Now, some Irish doctors would kill him…
Medical Council of Ireland
Sadly, the Medical Council just removed an essential clause from the 2024 Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Medical Practitioners.
As reported by LiveAction today: “The amended version removed a directive that doctors “must not take part in the deliberate killing of a patient.” This is seen by many as a precursor to permitting doctors to euthanize or assist a patient’s suicide should it become legal under Irish law.”
We must give the Medical Council / Comhairle na nDochtúirí Leighis at least a tiny bit of credit. They did not take the same cowardly approach of the Canadian and British Medical Associations by going “neutral” on the matter.
For example, in 2014 the CMA passed the motion to: “support the right of all physicians, within the bounds of existing legislation, to follow their conscience when deciding whether to provide medical aid in dying.” The Supreme Court of Canada delivered their Carter decision in 2015 and in 2016 parliament passed legislation which made Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia legal. The BMA went ‘neutral’ essentially based on 3% of votes being abstentions with 49% For and 48% Against.
[Addendum: For clarification, the Medical Council is a REGULATORY body which registers, supervises, and regulates the activities of doctors in Ireland. The BMA and CMA are REPRESENTATIVE bodies, with similarities to a Trade Union.)
For Ireland, this change is the first sip of Kool Aid:
https://www.catholicarena.com/latest/2022/12/1/will-ireland-drink-kennys-kool-aid
Ireland should look carefully at what has happened — and is happening — in Canada since 2016.
Euthanasia (which is 99+% of all “assisted”/MAiD deaths) is over 4% of all deaths! It increased 30% between 2021 and 2022 alone. Medical Assistance in Dying [MAiD] is no longer restricted to terminal illnesses (“foreseeable” death) and by March 2024, it will include people with mental illnesses ALONE.
People are being pushed into accepting death by a profound lack of services. Some choose death over extreme poverty, delayed care, or a lack of mental health services. This is eugenics for the disabled.
I saw this cynical cartoon on 𝕏 / Twitter / Twi𝕏 today:
Hippocrates
A Hippocratic aphorism I learned from my GP father which encapsulated his approach to patient’s health challenges, is:
“Cure sometimes — Treat often — Comfort always.”
This is same approach which doctors have taken with their patient over millennia.
An insightful essay on this saying notes that it is “…embracing comfort as a guiding principle within the medical field fosters empathy and nurtures the human connection between healthcare providers and patients.”
The unknown author also noted, that“Treatment, on the other hand, involves various therapeutic measures aimed at managing symptoms, slowing disease progression, and improving quality of life. It is an ongoing process that often demands commitment and dedication from both the patient and the healthcare team.In contrast to cure and treatment, comfort emerges as a constant and unwavering factor in patient care.”
This approach is the basis of Palliative Care, whereas the killing a patient is the rank opposite of “unwavering care.” Killing is an admission of failure: it says there is nothing more to live for — that this person’s life is now worthless.
Hope
There are many in Ireland who hold true to Hippocratic principles.
Thankfully the Royal College of Physicians opposes assisted suicide / voluntary euthanasia (as does the American Medical Association.) Indeed, the Irish response to the original Bill — the Dying with Dignity Bill 2020 / An Bille um Bás Dínitiúil, 2020 — was so vigorous that it was sent to committee, where it is now being debated in the Oireachtas.
Ireland must maintain opposition to the destruction of medical ethics.
Kevin Hay
You can follow Kevin on 𝕏 / Twitter — Twi𝕏 — @ kevinhay77
(addendum added 17 January 2024)