In Timothy Quill's essay on physician-assisted death in the United States, which topic is described?

• A. A Washington proposal for an Oregon-style law allowing legal access to potentially lethal medication for terminally ill patients.
• B. An argument that physician-assisted death should be illegal nationwide.
• C. A claim that palliative care has failed and should be abandoned.
• D. A description of the economic burden of end-of-life care.

Answer: (B)

This item tests your ability to identify the author’s stance on physician-assisted death in the United States. Timothy Quill’s essay argues that physician-assisted death should not be legalized nationwide. He writes from a clinician-ethicist perspective about the dangers and ethical concerns of enabling doctors to assist in dying, emphasizing risks to vulnerable patients, potential social and professional pressures, and the need to strengthen palliative care rather than promote lethal options. The discussion centers on national policy and the appropriate legal stance, rather than endorsing a state-style experiment, abandoning palliative care, or focusing on economic burdens.