Forum speaker focuses on assisted suicide

Dr. David Stevens is the next guest of the Glacial Forum, a Kalispell-based speaker series.

Stevens, a nationally known opponent of physician-assisted suicide,  will present a talk about the controversial practice at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. at Sykes’ Diner.

“The key thing is that legalization of this in Montana is dangerous,” he said. “It’s dangerous for physicians, it’s some new kind of idea. Before Hippocrates, doctors cared and killed. But we made a covenant relationship in which we would not take lives.”

Stevens said that certain interest groups have been spreading messages that physician-assisted suicide was legal in Montana and that was not the case. He said he believes the bond between a doctor and patient is vital and the practice would shatter it.

“The foundation of our relationship is trust,” he said. “A patient will know I’m a trustworthy person, but once you kill someone, that trust is gone. It gives a doctor enormous power.”

Stevens will analyze the physician-assisted suicide movement and the arguments for and against it and discuss possible ramifications.

Stevens serves as executive director of the American Academy of Medical Ethics, a nonprofit organization that seeks to educate people about medical ethics issues.

For reservations to Thursday’s event, call 257-4304.