Law and Ethics CE Course Topic: Physician Assisted Suicide

Course Description: Physician assisted suicide by various titles is legal in eleven states and the District of Columbia and internationally in an increasing number of countries. “End of Life” legislation has been introduced in the 2025 Maryland Legislative session and supporters are confident that it will pass and the Governor will sign.

During this Seminar we will examine the legal and ethical history of the right to refuse treatment and the right to die, the specifics of the proposed Maryland legislation, similar laws enacted in various states and countries and the positions of medical, social work, psychology and professional counselor associations.

The proposed Maryland legislation specifies the necessary requirements for an individual seeking to end his or her life and defines and attempts to protect the role of physicians, medical personnel and mental health providers when a request is made. Particularly controversial is that some countries that legalized physician assisted suicide now also have legalized euthanasia and include mental illness as qualifying for the required “terminal illness.”

Judge Dana Moylan Wright of the Washington County Circuit Court will again join Dr. Burke to provide insights about physician assisted suicide and the proposed legislation.

Featuring:

J. Emmet Burke, PhD, JD Clinical Psychologist, Brook Lane. Dr. Burke holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Heather Theibert, DO Psychiatrist, Meritus Health.
Dr. Theibert earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and has held academic leadership roles including Associate Program Director and Psychiatry Clerkship Director at OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio. She is the founding Program Director of the Psychiatry Residency at Meritus Health, where she also directs the psychiatry clerkship and serves as Course Director of Psychiatric Education for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Theibert is active in state and regional leadership through the American Psychiatric Association and practices inpatient, addiction, emergency, and consult-liaison psychiatry at Meritus Medical Center.