Doctors overwhelmingly support aid in dying

Until recently, the question of how New York doctors felt about the issue of medical aid in dying was up for debate. Although national polls conducted by Medscape/webmd clearly showed support among doctors nationally, there was scant data about New York doctors.

It was heartening last year when the Medical Society of the State of New York decided to survey its members on the issue, even though MSSNY represents less than 30 percent of New York doctors. The outcome, however, was less than gratifying. In fact, even though MSSNY’S president testified about the results of its Survey Monkey poll, the survey was so compromised that MSSNY has refused to release its flawed findings.

I was proud to join with other New York physicians who have extensive end-of-life care experience, faculty from the School of Public Health of the State University at Buffalo, the New York Academy of Family Physicians, and Compassion & Choices to have the polling professionals at Medscape/webmd conduct a survey of a random sample of all New York physicians.

The survey included 601 physicians (both members and non-members of MSSNY) and put extra emphasis on medical specialties most likely to have experience with end-of-life matters. The questions, results and process were vetted by academic and professional experts. The results have been released publicly with total transparency.

All polls are suggestive, few conclusive, and it is unrealistic to think that all physicians could be polled. However, the results of this valid, scientific survey of New York doctors were so overwhelming — 67-19 percent in support — that it is clear that the vast majority of New York doctors support the medical aid in dying bill currently before the state Legislature. These results are consistent with those of multiple other surveys coming from a wide array of professional and social organizations, state medical societies, and large national polls.

I applaud MSSNY for undertaking a task force to examine multiple aspects of end-of-life care. But there is a need for urgency in their deliberations and recommendations. Time is not an ally in these matters, particularly for terminally ill New Yorkers. When considering the data of this survey in its recommendations to the full MSSNY membership, the task force might remember the counsel of Dr. William Osler: “Listen to the patient, doctor. He’s trying to tell you something.”

Dr. Robert Milch is medical director emeritus, Hospice Buffalo, and a life member of the Medical Society of the State of New York.