Does anyone know if a doctor practicing medicine in a state where physician-assisted suicide is illegal can make a referral to a doctor practicing in a state where it is legal? I'm just wondering in case I get asked about this during an interview.
Physician-assisted Suicide Referrals?
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Nobody is going to ask you that.
They're not going to ask me that specific question. But I think it's likely that I may get asked about how I would deal with a patient requesting assisted suicide. I'd like to know if giving them a referral is something I could legally do. I tried googling it, but couldn't find anything.
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The question is not assessing your ability to make the standard of care decision in an end of life situation, it’s trying to get you to think about a problem out loud to learn about your thought process and principles
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Exactly.
Doubtful.
Physician assisted suicide is not just “here take these pills and die” and requires a lot of conditions both for the patient and the physicians granting it.
Literally the first thing that came up with google: How to Access and Use Death with Dignity Laws
Yes I know. Like I said, I've been researching this myself trying to find the answer. I know its a complicated process, and I appreciate that link you sent me, but it still doesn't answer my question. That link has information for patients and physicians in states where it is legal. I'm asking about the legality of a physician in a state where it is illegal, referring his patient to go see a doctor in a state where it is legal.
It's the referral itself that I'm wondering about. If my friend tells me he's suicidal, and I tell him where to buy a gun, I can legally be in trouble if he ends up killing himself. So I'm just wondering if there is any precedent like that in physician assisted suicide if you practice in a state where it's not legal.
I don't know of any specific cases but some states have language in their laws that specifically shield physicians that make referrals (would only apply instate). The VA has said no referrals or evaluations, but physicians must not hinder the process either (ie refuse to release medical records). Don't focus too much on the legality of it, you should focus on the ethical side as that's what they are trying to get to.
I would talk it through coming from balancing ethical principles (autonomy vs beneficence vs non maleficence), harm vs benefit to the patient vs conscience clause (ie you are the patients long term pcp and know the patient best), and how legal and accessible are 2 very different things. It might help to read up on the bioethics of other controversial topics like abortion referral as well.
I would talk it through coming from balancing ethical principles (autonomy vs beneficence vs non maleficence), harm vs benefit to the patient vs conscience clause (ie you are the patients long term pcp and know the patient best), and how legal and accessible are 2 very different things. It might help to read up on the bioethics of other controversial topics like abortion referral as well.
I really do not think they are going to ask you this, and if they do they are not looking for your ability to know medico-legal ramifications of something like cross-state referrals, but more of the ethical dilemmas like smukke noted. Reading up on bioethics of controversial topics might serve you well as I was asked about a topic once, but it was just testing my ability to come up with a plan and be able to explain my reasoning behind it.
