The Nation - News from Feb. 1, 1988

A young physician who wrote an essay describing a decision to inject a deadly dose of morphine into a terminally ill patient has been condemned by colleagues who called the action unethical and illegal. A gynecology resident told how he ended the life of a 20-year-old cancer patient in an article titled “It’s Over, Debbie” in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. Dr. George Lundberg, the magazine’s editor, and his staff believe--but have not confirmed--that the essay is based on an actual event. The doctor’s name and hospital were not disclosed. The mail, Lundberg said, “is running 80 to 20 against publishing the piece . . . and the vast majority is running against the physician’s action.” Some experts say the actions described were both unethical and illegal.