Our Pledge to Our Patients

We will treat the sick according to our best ability and judgement,
always striving to do no harm.

We will give comfort care until natural death.

We will support our patients’ wishes not to prolong
the dying process with futile care.

We will never give a deadly drug to anyone even if asked,
nor will we suggest suicide.

Whatever we see or hear in the course of medical practice,
we will keep private and confidential.

With integrity, we will always affirm and guard these ethical principles, recognizing that every human life is inherently valuable.

Take the Pledge Online—Become a Member

The primary goal of “Take the Pledge” is to foster communication between patients and physicians or other health care professionals. Patients want to know where their practitioner stands on the issue of medically-assisted suicide or euthanasia. Our organization has received hundreds of requests for help find doctors who oppose assisted suicide. Many of these requests come from people who actually support assisted suicide as an option for others, but don’t want their own personal physician to support this because even those who support of assisted suicide understand on a very personal level how the practioner’s values can affect medical care.

Take the Pledge Online

How the Pledge Facilitates Conversations With Patients

The Questions Many Patients Have

Does my physician or other health care professional hold that human life is intrinsically valuable?

Does he or she think I am intrinsically valuable no matter what my condition?
Would my health care professional prescribe lethal drugs for my suicide–essentially devaluing me because of my physical losses or psychological reaction to my condition?
To help initiate communication about this topic, we have created an adaptation of the Hippocratic Oath for doctors or other health care professionals to display in their offices. By “Taking the Pledge,” health care professionals can let their patients know where they stand. Patients can also use this pledge as a starting point for a discussion to find out where their practitioner stands. This pledge could also be used to oppose assisted suicide legislative efforts by involving health care professionals directly. Please read our PCCEF member viewpoints, messages for patients, messages for physicians, and take advantage of the pledge available for free download.

Talking to your Patients

It can be difficult for a doctor or other health care professional to talk about personal values with their patient. Most were taught to take a therapeutic stance which prevents getting “too personal.” This approach to patient care needs to be reconsidered in light of direct harm to our profession that medically-assisted suicide or euthanasia causes. Assisted suicide and euthanasia directly assault the role of physicians and health care professionals in society, harm trust in the patient-professional relationship, and place those who are most vulnerable at risk. A main strategy of the pro-assisted suicide/euthanasia movement is to marginalize opposition because informed professionals who profess their commitment to never harm patients are the largest obstacle to their cause. Don’t be marginalized. “Taking the Pledge” can help limit the spread of assisted suicide or euthanasia. If we want to maintain the integrity of our health care profession, we need to deal directly with this issue. If your patient is nearing end of life, you can let them know you will make this journey with them and take a stance of unconditional commitment to respect his/her inherent dignity until natural death:

“I care about you and will continue to care for you as you go through this.”
We will see this through together and I promise I will do my best to manage all of your symptoms, including pain.

Following your conscience and displaying your views can also help improve the quality of care you give. If this discussion leads to your patient asking you about assisted suicide, find out more. It may be they are simply curious or they could be experiencing suffering. You elucidate this by asking a few dignity conserving questions which can help you identify and address the underlying issues, leading to improved care and patient satisfaction.

Talking to your Health Care Professional

Most patients are reluctant to bring up this kind of issue with their physician or other health care professional, but it is important. Patients want to know how their practitioner will care for them when they near the end of life. Patients need to know if their doctors (primary care, specialists, and sub-specialists) or other health care professionals have expertise in end-of-life care and if they will work with hospice or other palliative care experts. Most of all, patients want to know if their practitioner will be there for them in their time of need. Patients understand that the values and beliefs of the health care professional determine what type of care they provide, and patients want to know what those values are. The way to find out where your practitioner stands, ask him/her a simple question:

What is your position on medically-assisted suicide or euthanasia?

If you hear an answer you don’t like, it might be time for you to find another practitioner. If your physician is opposed to assisted suicide, you can find out if they will “Take the Pledge” by obtaining a pledge, giving it to your physician, and asking these questions:

Is this pledge something you agree with?
Would you be willing to display this in your waiting room or office?

Member Viewpoint

“As a practicing gynecologic oncologist in Portland, Oregon, where physician-assisted suicide is legal, I informed patients of my views by having a clear statement, based on the Hippocratic Oath posted in my waiting room. This reassured most patients, however, I had two patients who objected. The first was afraid that I would prolong her life beyond her wishes. This conversation helped me to meet her needs and she had a peaceful, comfortable death at home with her family. The second patient wanted me to prescribe lethal medications in case her cancer pain became unbearable. Prior to this conversation, she had been minimizing her pain. This conversation allowed us to work together to better control her pain, after which her desire for assisted suicide disappeared. She died comfortably and naturally two months later.

I encourage all physicians to inform their patients as to where they stand on these controversial areas. In my experience, this helps to facilitate patient-physician communication, improves care, and allows physicians to practice medicine according to their own personal ethic.”

William M. Petty, M.D.