Withdrawal of Life Support

The WSMA agrees that for humane reasons, with informed consent, a physician may do what is medically necessary to alleviate severe pain, or cease or omit treatment, including nutrition and hydration by other than natural methods, to let a terminally ill patient die, but he/she should not intentionally cause death. (JC 2.14-87) (Reaffirmed A-17)

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Abbreviations for House of Delegates report origination:

EC – Executive Committee; BT – Board of Trustees; CPA – Council on Professional Affairs; JC – Judicial Council; CHS – Community and Health Services