Press reports continue to air the story of a Colorado physician fired for questioning her healthcare system employer's refusal to offer end-of-life medical care in the form of physician assisted suicide. The state's voters had just approved the practice by referendum. The employer, though, held a religious commitment not to provide assisted suicide services. The physician no longer practices medicine, highlighting the professional hazards around these emerging laws. If you face such issues, retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team now by calling 888.535.3686or completing this contact form.

Professional Challenges of Assisted Suicide Laws

Assisted suicide is obviously a controversial and sensitive issue for the involved patients considering the practice and for their family members. But, assisted suicide also presents serious challenges to the physician asked to advise as to or provide the medical service. Beyond the important personal questions and convictions, the professional challenges can include:

• whether the practice is legal in the physician's licensing state and, if so, under what terms for evaluation, diagnosis, counseling, and other protective measures;
• whether the physician's employer and practice facility permit the practice and, if so, under what conditions and with what personnel and equipment; and
• how state medical board disciplinary officials may respond to family members, employers, colleagues, or public complaints against the physician for offering or refusing to offer assisted suicide services.

Beware the Professional Licensing Implications

From a personal standpoint, physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in an assisted suicide matter should be especially cautious about the potential professional licensing implications. Make no mistake: you could lose your professional license to disciplinary charges if you violate a professional standard or rule relating to assisted suicide.

Depending on your state's assisted suicide laws and other variables, your standard or rule violation could arise from offering assisted suicide, refusing to offer assisted suicide, failing to provide other advice, counseling, and information related to assisted suicide, or the personnel, practices, methods, and rationales you and other healthcare professionals use or fail to use related to the offer or refusal to offer assisted suicide.

Our License Defense Role in Assisted Suicide Cases

The state laws on assisted suicide continue to evolve. Currently, only California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia permit assisted suicide under different terms and conditions. When you face assisted suicide matters, you may be entering a thicket of professional risk and uncertainty.

Our attorneys know the medical and other professional licensing laws, rules, and regulations related to assisted suicide issues. We can guide and advise you, as a physician or other medical professional, as to how to minimize your licensing and other practice risks, no matter your commitment and disposition toward physician assisted suicide.

Premier License Defense Available

Don't face physician assisted suicide issues uninformed and unprepared for the potential licensing and other regulatory and professional issues. Retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Professional License Defense Team to protect and preserve your professional license and reputation. Call 888.535.3686 or complete this contact form now.