IMPORTANT UPDATE: American Association of Suicidology Position Statement on Medical Aid in Dying Now Restored

The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) position statement “Suicide Is Not The Same As Physician Aid In Dying” has been reposted and is once again publicly available at https://suicidology.org/advocacy/medical-assistance-in-dying/.

What Happened

In March 2023, AAS temporarily retired all position statements pending periodic review. However, the statement’s absence from the website was misinterpreted by some organized opposition groups, including Not Dead Yet, as a formal retraction indicating AAS had recognized errors in their position. This was never the case. AAS’s position distinguishing medical aid in dying from suicide remained unchanged throughout this period, and the statement has now been fully restored.

Why This Matters to U.S. Medical Aid in Dying

For nearly a decade, this statement has served as an authoritative, singular resource for end-of-life educators and advocates. Having clear support from the country’s largest suicide prevention organization is invaluable when explaining the fundamental distinctions between suicide and medical aid in dying.

How State-Based Organizations Support National Clinical and Advocacy Efforts

State-based end-of-life leadership organizations work at the grassroots level to address misinformation and fill knowledge gaps in media coverage, aging and end-of-life organizations, academic settings, and public discourse. This state-level work directly complements and strengthens the advocacy and clinical efforts of national organizations by ensuring consistent, accurate messaging reaches diverse audiences where implementation happens.

This collaborative approach, detailed in the Journal of Aid in Dying Medicine (Issue 2, Volume 1, pages 128-139), creates a stronger foundation for advancing medical aid in dying nationwide.

Click here to read the statement

Please Share