The ethics of assisted suicide
Wednesday 30 June 2010
Venue: Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, LONDON, W1G 0AE
We are most grateful to the Institute of Medical Ethics for supporting this conference.
Background and aims
The current debate on assisted suicide too often generates more heat than light. This meeting will give an opportunity for those concerned to consider the issues and to listen to one another in a safe and reflective environment.
We believe a high level meeting can make a genuine contribution to the current debate. The meeting will allow senior figures on all sides of the debate to give their view in a way that will enable reasoned consideration of the complex issues and conflicts involved. The meeting will be strongly chaired but will allow interaction in a structured way without being hijacked by any one point of view.
Who should come?
The meeting will be open both to doctors and to the lay public. Any who wish to learn about the complexities of the issue, to listen to the views of others and to debate with others within an environment of mutual respect will be welcome. The meeting will be of particular interest to all doctors dealing with those who are dying, and to ethicists.
Early bird rates expire on 06 June 2010.
The Institute of Medical Ethics has kindly sponsored 10 places for students which have now been allocated
Registration Details:
AHP/Nurse/Midwife: £135
Other professionals: £135
RSM Retired Fellow: £115
Dinner: £35
RSM Member - Evening meeting only: £7
Evening meeting only: £10
Consultant/GP: £265
RSM Student: £45
RSM Trainee: £115
RSM Associate: £115
RSM Fellow: £145
Student: £60
Trainee: £135
CPD: 5 credits
10.30 am |
Registration and coffee |
10.55 am |
Welcome address |
| Dr David Misselbrook, Dean, Royal Society of Medicine | |
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Session one |
|
| Chair: Professor Margaret Lloyd, President, General Practice with Primary Healthcare Section, Royal Society of Medicine |
|
11.00 am |
Setting the scene - morning keynote |
|
Lord Mackay, House of Lords Principal author of the House of Lords Report |
|
11.40 am |
Holland and Oregon - evidence for a slippery slope |
| Professor David Jones, Director of the Centre for Bioethics and Emerging Technologies, St Mary's University College | |
12.00 pm |
Holland and Oregon - evidence against a slippery slope |
|
Prof Bregje D. Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Associate Professor, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Expertise Center for Palliative Care, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
|
12.20 pm |
Panel discussion |
1.00 pm |
Lunch |
|
Session two |
|
| Chair: Baroness Finlay of Llandaff | |
2.00 pm |
The role of autonomy in the argument - afternoon keynote |
| Baroness O'Neill of Bengarve | |
2.40 pm |
The sanctity of life - two views |
|
Prof Paul Badham, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales |
|
|
3.00 pm |
The Rt Revd Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter |
3.20 pm |
Tea break |
3.50 pm |
Current practical dilemmas |
|
Nursing issues. |
|
| Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing | |
4.10 pm |
Regulatory issues |
| Sir Graeme Catto, Chairman, Better Regulation Group, Universities UK | |
4.30 pm |
Two personal viewpoints |
| For : Dr Ann McPherson CBE Against: Baroness Campbell of Surbiton | |
4.50 pm |
Close of meeting and refreshments |
|
Evening debate |
|
| Chair: Dr David Misselbrook, Dean, Royal Society of Medicine |
|
6.00 pm |
Motion: "This house believes that assisted suicide should be legal in the UK" |
|
Initial vote For - Lord Joffe, Seconder - Raymond Tallis |
|
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Against - Lord Carlile, Seconder - Baroness O'Loan Final vote |
|
7.30 pm |
End of debate |
