Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia after the Holocaust

In this presentation, Dr. Sheldon Rubenfeld, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, discusses physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia and their relation to the medical practices that led to the Holocaust. 

Dr. Rubenfeld explores the history of euthanasia and PAS, emphasizing the limited legal status of these practices in the United States. The notion of eugenics was built on the ideas set forth by Darwinism and Mendelian genetics and drove the Nazi practices of forced sterilization of neuropsychiatric patients, euthanasia of the disabled, cruel medical experiments, and the use of gas chambers in death camps. He focuses on the role that physicians played in those horrific practices. Dr. Rubenfeld also reviews the legal and political stances of contemporary Europe and the United States on euthanasia and PAS.

Target Audience

This CME/CE activity is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, residents, fellows, and community providers.

Faculty and trainees within the Department of Medicine who are involved in the care of patients need to be regularly updated with the recent advances and guidelines in the fields of internal medicine and quality improvement to increase clinical knowledge, and to implement the advances and guidelines in clinical practice to enhance the quality of patient care and outcomes.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

  • Review the history of and current policies and regulations pertaining to physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in the United States.

  • Analyze euthanasia in Germany during the Third Reich and in contemporary Europe.

  • Critique the response of medical providers in the United States to legislation related to physician-assisted suicide.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Participation
Course opens: 
08/01/2019
Course expires: 
08/31/2021
Rating: 
0

Richard J. Hamill, M.D., Planning Committee Member 
Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Erica Lescinskas, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Zaven Sargsyan, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chirayu Shah, M.D., M.Ed., Planning Committee Member
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Stephanie Sherman, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jefferson Triozzi, M.D., Planning Committee Member
Internal Medicine Resident
Department of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 Participation
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