Catholic Fire

Doctors in Montana are refusing to cooperate with a court decision allowing physician-assisted suicide, saying their role is to care for patients, not help them kill themselves. In December, a District Court judge ruled that physician-assisted suicide is a constitutional right. The Montana Medical Association, however, said it "does not condone the deliberate act of precipitating the death of a patient." Bill Toffler, the national director of Physicians for Compassionate Care, said when a state medical association takes a stand against physician-assisted suicide, it has a tremendous impact. "It's very important for a medical association to take a strong stance because the public looks to doctors and their organizations for guidance," Toffler said. ~ Nima Reza at CitizenLink.