Assisted dying debate comes to Belfast
A debate on assisted dying and palliative care will be taking place in Belfast on Thursday 30th March 2017, coinciding with the Association for Palliative Medicine’s (APM) Supportive and Palliative Care conference. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss, debate and share ideas on the topic and is open for anyone to attend, particularly healthcare professionals who wish to know more about the issue.
The event, titled Assisted Dying and Palliative Care: Exploring Different Perspectives, will take place on Thursday 30 March at the Hilton Belfast between 7pm and 9pm. Speakers include a palliative care doctor, a hospice CEO and members of the public. Tickets are available for free via Eventbrite and there will be complimentary refreshments provided. Capacity is limited so registration is recommended to avoid disappointment. Dignity in Dying, the organiser of the event, was denied an exhibiting stand at the conference. Last year, over 13,000 people signed a petition calling for Professor Rob George, the outgoing President of the APM, to retract comments he made about assisted dying “muscling in” on end-of-life care1.
Lloyd Riley, Policy and Research Manager at Dignity in Dying, said:
“This event is intended as an opportunity for people from all sides of the debate, and those who simply want to know more about the issue, to come together and share their views. We will be exploring how assisted dying and end-of-life care can work together, learning from jurisdictions overseas that have already changed the law and examining what safeguards would be needed to protect vulnerable people and healthcare professionals.
“Assisted dying is an issue that continues to hit the headlines. According to the largest ever opinion poll on the matter, 82% of the public would support a change in the law to allow assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults2. This is not an issue that will go away.
“The APM did not want this event to take place but we believe the public, healthcare professionals and most importantly dying people deserve an honest and informed discussion. We encourage anyone wanting to contribute or learn more to register for a ticket.”
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For interviews or more information please contact Ellie Ball at ellie.ball@dignityindying.org.uk or 0207 479 7732 / 07725 433 025.
Notes to Editors
Tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/assisted-dying-and-palliative-care-exploring-different-perspectives-tickets-31880890602
1 https://www.change.org/p/please-don-t-stifle-the-assisteddying-debate-profrobgeorge-i-m-a-patient-for-me-its-a-priority
2 https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/news/poll-assisted-dying/
About Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying campaigns for greater choice, control and access to services at the end of life. It advocates providing terminally ill adults with the option of an assisted death, within strict legal safeguards, and for universal access to high quality end-of-life care.
For more information, visit https://www.dignityindying.org.uk/