My surprise is that she was told this with such certainty at an actual medical clinic

The latter is simply a dated absurdity—likely a remnant from the horror of World War 2. Patients have a right to die with dignity and with minimal suffering. With consent, we can give heavy sedation to minimize suffering. And more directly, we SHOULD be able to assist in dying with some patients.

The former demands a dual allegiance—one to do the right thing for your patient and one to the law itself. When these come into conflict, it is not clear whether to prefer your patient’s well-being or the law. Many laws actively harm our patients. The Osteopathic Oath provides no guidance here.

There are 2 lines in the Osteopathic Oath which I have always encouraged DO trainees to not recite: one on “sustaining laws and institutions” and one refusing to give any person medicine for “deadly purposes” under any circumstance.

Congrats! And I love the recent rebrand. The journals and other authoritative places that physicians learn new information have an incredible impact on the language they take up