British Section of the World Federation of Doctors Who Respect Human Life

Conference on the Bill for Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill

All Souls College, Oxford, 26th September 2006

A conference was recently held at All Souls College, Oxford, concerning Lord Joffe's Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill. The areas of discussion are listed below, along with the protagonists in the debate (anti-Bill individuals are in italics).

The Sanctity of Life

Speakers

Professor John Wyatt Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, University College London
Professor Paul Badham, Professor of Theology University of Wales at Lampeter

Cross examiners

Dr David Jones School of Theology, St Mary's College, University of Surrey
Baroness Warnock, Philosopher, House of Lords

Impact on the Elderly and the Disabled

Speakers

Sian Vasey, Not Dead Yet UK
Dr Margaret Branthwaite, Medical Consultant and Barrister

Cross examiners

Dr Peter Saunders, Director, Care Not Killing Alliance
Dr Kenwright, Consultant in General Medicine

The Slippery Slope

Speakers

Baroness Mary Warnock Baroness, House of Lords
Dr Jacqueline Laing Senior Lecturer in Law; Human Rights & Social Justice Research Institute, London Metropolitan University

Cross examiners

Lord Joel Joffe High Court Judge, Chairman of the General Council of the Bar, House of Lords.
Dr Peter Saunders, Director, Care Not Killing Alliance

The Possible Undermining of Palliative Care

Speakers

Dr Scheffer, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Rowcroft Hospice
Dr Rob George, Consultant in Palliative Medicine and a Senior Lecturer in Bioethics & the Philosophy of Medicine, London.

Cross examiners

Dr Nigel Sykes, Medical Director and Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Christopher's Hospice
Dr Nick Maurice, GP.

The Effect of Trust in Doctors

Speakers

Dr Ian Williams Neurologist, Ross-shire
Dr Rhona Knight GP, Senior Fellow with the Centre for Bioethics and Public Policy

Cross examiners

Dr Kathy Myers, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Hertfordshire
Michael Harding, General Practitioner

The Determination of Capacity

Speakers

Professor Andrew Sims, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, University of Leeds, Former President of the Royal College of Psychiatry
Baroness Elaine Murphy, House of Lords

Cross examiners

Professor Tim Maughan, Professor in Cancer Studies, University of Wales, Director, Wales Centre Trials Network
Dr Kenwright, Consultant in General Medicine