For years — decades, actually — euthanasia forces have tried to take MD opposition off the table by convincing major medical associations to adopt a position of “studied neutrality.” Studied neutrality? What does that mean: We’re going to pay careful attention to the issue and express no opinion?

Now, the American Medical Association, heretofore an implacable opponent of assisted suicide, is apparently going to “restudy” the issue. From the Right to Life News Today story:

At its annual meeting in Chicago, the American Medical Association (AMA) rejected a Louisiana State Medical Society proposal to reaffirm the AMA’s long-standing policy against physician assisted suicide. Instead it approved a study-resolution to explore AMA adoption of a neutral position on physician assisted suicide, which was often referred to as “aid-in-dying” in the debate.

If the AMA goes “neutral” it will be a cowardly abdication of the organization’s obligation to be leaders regarding crucial healthcare issues. I mean, how can the AMA be indifferent on the question of whether doctors should be allowed to exterminate their ill patients who want to die?

One hopes that, after having a deep conversation, the rank and file of the AMA will follow its brothers and sisters in the British Medical Association in continuing to oppose assisted suicide. At its convention, members voted (for the third time in recent years) not to go “neutral,” which is another way of actually saying, not to jump on the assisted suicide bandwagon.

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Cross-posted at Human Exceptionalism.