Assisted dying will be the topic of debate at the launch of the
Law Society's 2012 Public Debate Series.
Following the outstanding success of the 2011 debate series, the
Law Society, in partnership with Huffington Post UK, is launching a
new series of events examining key law reform issues in the UK.
Members of the public, legal professionals, academics,
journalists, not-for-profit employees and volunteers and students
are invited to attend the first in the new series of free cutting
edge lectures and debates, aimed to encourage education, training
and thought leadership.
The first debate of the series, “Assisted Dying: A Matter
of Choice?” will be held at 6.00pm on Tuesday, April 3rd at the Law Society
in Chancery Lane.
The debate on the highly contentious issue of assisted dying has
dramatically reopened in 2012 with the publication of guidance by
the Director of Public Prosecutions, a report by the Commission on
Assisted Dying and a high court decision protecting lawyers and
doctors from prosecution for acting on behalf of clients that want
help to end their lives.
A panel of high profile speakers including Baroness Young of Old
Scone (Commission on Assisted Dying), Debbie Purdy (Campaigner who
won a case in 2009 demanding greater clarity from the DPP), Dr
Kevin Fitzpatrick (Not Dead Yet UK campaign) and Robert Preston
(Director, Living and Dying Well) will examine the current state of
the law on assisted dying; the principles the law should espouse;
the practical aspects such as eligibility criteria and safeguards
that would be necessary to entertain a change in the law; the
recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Assisted Dying
and; the question of whether reform of the law would precipitate
undesirable culture change around the issue of assisted dying.
Commenting on the media partnership with Huffington Post UK,
Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, Vice President of the Law Society, who will
be chairing the debate, said, “The media partnership with
Huffington Post UK represents the legal profession and new media
coming together to explore law reform issues and engage the public
in a range of diverse topics. On a practical level it will serve as
an avenue for wider promotion of the debate series, through a
high-profile online media channel to enhance media outreach and
amplification of these fascinating subjects. The partnership will
produce blogs and articles on the Huffington Post website and will
maximise the social media benefits of this series.”
The debate will include a Q&A session with the audience. The
Law Society bar will open from 7.45pm.
Book your free place at http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/54637
Ends
Assisted Dying: A Matter of Choice?
Public Debate Series
Date: Tuesday 3 April 2012
Timing: Registration 6.00pm - Debate starts 6.30pm -
Bar open from 7.45pm
Price: Free
CPD: 1.5
Book online at: http://services.lawsociety.org.uk/events/node/54637
For enquiries please telephone 020 7316 5700
The Law Society Public Debate Series is open to both members of
the Law Society and the public, and events are free to attend.
Contact: Catherine Reed, The Law Society
+44 (0)20 7320 5902