Canberra Science Forum to debate Euthanasia

Australian Science Festival & Radio National Australia Talks

present from the National Convention Centre, Canberra at 5.45pm Tuesday Aug 3 and broadcast nationally


Dying With Dignity



http://bit.ly/cjK2Ci
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/australiatalks/




What choices do we have about dying? What extent of control can we have over the situation? How can we maintain our dignity in the process?

Dying is often kept behind closed doors in our society. We typically shy away from it, yet we openly discuss sex. Death happens to all of us, but is not always something we plan or prepare for in life.

While many people find dying difficult to talk about, it is important to be well informed about the varying views and decisions there are to consider. This forum will help to demystify death and get us talking openly about what has traditionally been a taboo subject.

ABC Radio National's Paul Barclay will explore this controversial topic in a special live Australia Talks program with

• Dr Philip Nitschke, Founder and Director of Exit International,
• Associate Professor Patrick McArdie, Australian Catholic University
• Dr Scott Blackwell, Palliative Care Australia's President Elect
• Dr Kaarin Anstey, Director of the Ageing at ANU's Centre for Mental Health Research.

Dr Nitschke will argue that Euthanasia is as much a question of science and technology as it is one of medicine and law.

For over a decade the question of an individual's “right to die” has been seen as one requiring a legal and ultimately a political solution. Strong opposition from predominantly conservative religious bodies has effectively parallized the political process leaving the option of a peaceful death at the time of one’s choosing an unavailable dream for most Australians.

I will argue that the solution lies not in politics and law, but rather in the innovative use of science and technology. With the development of simpler and more reliable and effective methods of “self-deliverance,” the role of legislators becomes irrelevant. Indeed, it is the failure of the political process that has driven research and development in this area and led to a number of recent significant advances. We now see large numbers of elderly Australians with the ability to choose the manner and timing of their peaceful death if and when they want and expressing an increasing disregard for the political process.