Assisted dying and euthanasia law - learning from international experiences

Date: Tuesday 24 June
Time: 12.25am - 1.40pm

Overview

This session will provide a balanced discussion of differing perspectives on assisted dying and euthanasia, featuring contributions from both proponents and opponents of these practices.
An expert in Forensic Psychiatry from Belgium will share insights into the impact of euthanasia laws on psychiatry, drawing from decades of experience working in countries where euthanasia is legal. This will include cases involving psychiatrists accused of murder and life-sentenced offenders.
A Professor of Palliative Care and member of the House of Lords, who has campaigned for years against the introduction of assisted dying legislation in the UK, will provide expertise on how such laws affect end-of-life medical care.
Additionally, a former Chair of a major Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, who has long advocated for the introduction of assisted dying laws in the UK, will discuss the impact of these laws on mental health care.
The session will foster a balanced dialogue among all panellists, exploring the most effective ways to support patients, families, friends, carers, and professionals in navigating the challenges of the current legal framework in the UK regarding assisted dying, with a focus on potential developments by June 2025.

In this session you will:

  • Increased knowledge about the arguments for and against assisted dying and euthanasia reform
  • Increased knowledge about international experiences where assisted dying and euthanasia laws have existed for decades
  • Increased knowledge about ways to support patients, family, friends, carers and professionals in the context of the UK legal framework for assisted dying
  • Skills in working alongside people with divergent values and opinions regarding assisted dying and euthanasia

 

Speakers

Chair: Dr Jonathan Hurlow, BSMHFT NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham

International psychiatric experiences of euthanasia law

Professor Kris Goethals, Univerisity of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

UK parliamentary perspectives against assisted dying law

Baroness Ilora Finlay, House of Lords, London

UK parliamentary perspectives for assisted dying law

Baroness Molly Meacher, House of Lords, London

Register for Congress 2025

Please email congress@rcpsych.ac.uk or call 020 8618 4120 with any enquiries.