RT Journal
A1 MacDonald R
T1 ONcologists' practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1999
FD March 10
VO 281
IS 10
SP 897
OP 899
DO 10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-10-jac90000
UL http://dx.doi.org/10-1001/pubs.JAMA-ISSN-0098-7484-281-10-jac90000
AB 
To the Editor: Dr Emanuel and
colleagues1 report that a "minority of oncologists
experience substantial problems from their actions. In almost a quarter
of cases, physicians regretted performing euthanasia or PAS after the
incident and in almost 1 in 6 cases, physicians experienced emotional
distress." Perhaps the authors have personal philosophies preventing
reporting the obvious—more than 75% of the respondents did not regret
helping a patient die, and more than 83% experienced no emotional
distress. It was admitted that "the majority of oncologists would
perform euthanasia and PAS again in a similar case and received comfort
from having helped a patient." Having assisted numerous terminally
ill patients, many with cancer, to hasten death, I can agree with that
latter statement.