Government
New AMA policy emerges from the Terri Schiavo case
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 11, 2005
The American Medical Association will oppose lawmakers' attempts to make artificial hydration and nutrition decisions on behalf of incapacitated patients.
The American Academy of Neurology introduced the resolution at the AMA Annual Meeting in June in response to the Terri Schiavo case, during which Congress and the Bush administration tried to get a court order to reinsert Schiavo's feeding tube.
The AMA will also look at the feasibility of requiring a written advance directive from anyone enrolling in a health plan or applying for a driver's license.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/07/11/gvbf0711.htm.