World Federation of Right to Die Societies International Conference 2024
These were our Keynote Speakers & Contributors
Videos Avaiable
Colin Brewer
Colin Brewer is a retired psychiatrist. He was a lecturer at Birmingham and director of the Westminster Hospital’s alcoholism service.
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Understandably Unhappy, Not Depressed
Jule Briese
Jule Briese is a Canadian author, educator and workshop facilitator who enjoys creating opportunities for inspirational performances focusing on personal stories, songs and poetry.
She resides in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia.
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Glimpses into Alzheimer’s: Reflections on the Doctor Patient Relationship
Lew Cohen
Prof. Lew Cohen is an internationally known emeritus professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, and a palliative medicine clinician-researcher based in Springfield, Massachusetts.
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Dementia must be included as part of the End of Life Conversation
Tanja Daws
Dr. Tanja Daws is a family physician and MAiD Provider practising in the Comox Valley, in rural British Columbia, Canada.
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Glimpses into Alzheimer’s: Reflections on the Doctor Patient Relationship
Vincent Devine
Vincent Devine is an Irish artist based in Co.Offaly, Ireland. He learned to draw at the age of 4 and paint at the age of 9. He studied at The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest and has a Honours Degree in Visual Communications.
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Deeping understanding…When art meets science
Stephen Duckworth
Stephen Duckworth was opposed to assisted dying before he joined Lord Faulkner’s Commission on Assisted Dying (2011-2012)
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Why I Changed my Mind about Assisted Dying
Jocelyn Downie
Jocelyn Downie is Professor Emeritus in the Faculties of Law and Medicine at Dalhousie University.
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Canada’s Human Rights based, Values Driven Journey to Legalisation of MAiD
Marion Dyer
In Conversation with People Sharing their Lived Experience
Sharon Foley
Sharon Foley is a distinguished healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience in sexual health, crisis pregnancy, health services delivery, and end-of-life care.
Throughout her career, she has been a relentless advocate for equitable access to healthcare, demonstrating a deep commitment to championing informed and balanced debates on pressing social issues.
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Sharon Foley in conversation with Tina McCafferty
Mike Gaffney
The Hon. Mike Gaffney (MLC) was elected to the Legislative Council (Upper
House) of the Parliament of Tasmania in 2009 for a six-year term. He was re-elected in 2015 and again elected unopposed in 2021, and is the Independent Member for the Mersey Electorate.
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The Tasmanian Journey to Legalisation of Voluntary Assisted Dying
Stefanie Green
Dr. Stefanie Green spent 10 years in general practice and another 12 years working exclusively in maternity and newborn care before changing her focus in 2016 to medical assistance in dying (MAiD)
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MAiD/Assisted Dying: Why do Doctors choose this work?
Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly BL is a barrister with a particular interest in healthcare and medical law. Following publication of “The Future of Assisted Dying in Ireland” in the Medico-Legal Journal of Ireland, he was invited as an expert witness to the Joint Oireachtas Special Committee on Assisted Dying, alongside Simon Mills BL, who represented Marie Fleming.
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Safeguards for Assisted Dying in Ireland: The Key to Constitutionality
Silvan Luley
Silvan Luley is a team member of the Swiss non-profit membership association “DIGNITAS – To live with dignity – To die with dignity
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In the Absence of Legislation for Assisted Dying, Dignitas remains an option.
Eric Mathison
Professor Eric Mathison is an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto Scarborough and a practicing clinical ethicist.
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Assisted Dying for Vulnerable People
Siobhan Malone McBarron
Siobham Malone McBarron is navigating life with grace and determination despite living with a degenerative neuromuscular
disease. Siobhan is deeply committed to raising awareness about living with a chronic illness and promoting understanding.
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Assisted Dying is not ‘the easy way out’
Tina McCafferty
Tina McCafferty is CEO of Tōtara Hospice. She is of Scots Irish decent and has lived in Aotearoa New Zealand for 26 years.
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The Totara Hospice Journey shows Voluntary Assisted Dying can be provided within Palliative Care.
Justin McKenna
Justin McKenna has over 40 years continuous experience as a solicitor practising in the area of end of life.
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Ireland’s journey to legalisation so far to legalisation of Voluntary Assisted Dying
Greg Mewett
Dr Greg Mewett was a GP in Bendigo, Central Victoria (Australia) for 22 years during which time he developed a special interest in palliative care and was an educator & clinical advisor with the Loddon-Mallee Regional Palliative Care Team.
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Voluntary Assisted Dying as an integral part of the Palliative Care Service
Corrinna Moore
Corrinna Moore is the Research Ethics and Integrity Officer at Trinity College Dublin.
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What Did Irish GP’s think of Medical Assistance in Dying?
Jane Morris
President Dying With Dignity Victoria
As a nurse, Jane Morris witnessed the intolerable and inhumane suffering experienced by some dying individuals.
Jane has completed a Master of Bioethics.
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Age Defying Advocacy: Why Younger People’s Voices on Voluntary Assisted Dying Must be Heard
Manuel Gómez Moruno
Dr Manuel Gómez Moruno is a GP in Mallow, Cork, graduated from the University of Barcelona Medical School.
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Spanish Legislation for Assisted Dying
Mark Murphy
Dr Mark Murphy work as a GP in Dublin, Ireland. Mark has held several academic, management, union and professional representative roles.
Dr Mark Murphy along with Dr. Nick Carr and Dr. Brendan O’Shea, were insightful contributors on an informal panel discussion
Tom O'Dowd
Tom O’Dowd is Emeritus Professor of General Practice, Trinity College Dublin and a Principal in General Practice, West Dublin
Ken Olinger
Ken Olinger, MICGP, graduated from Cornell University and qualified in Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
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A GP’s perspective: What Legislation for Assisted Dying would have meant to him
Brendan O’ Shea
Dr Brendan O’ Shea, MD FRCGP is a GP and Occupational Medicine Physician at The Bridge Medical Centre, Newbridge, Ireland, and Assistant Adjunct Professor at Trinity College Dublin.
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Over-Medicalisation at End of Life
Gary Payinda
Dr Gary Payinda is an emergency medicine specialist who campaigned for the legalisation of assisted dying in New Zealand in 2018.
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Sorry, you don’t qualify.” When Assisted Dying is legislated for but inaccessible.
Kashmir Lesnick-Petrovicz
As a photographer, Kashmir Lesnick-Petrovicz work focuses on the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment. In using her skills as a visual artist, she fosters greater understanding of global and societal issues, including climate literacy and refugee rights. She will speak on What Legislation for MAiD Meant to Her
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What Legislation for MAiD meant to me
Thaddeus Mason Pope
Prof. Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, HEC-C
is a foremost expert on medical law and clinical ethics. He focuses on patient rights and healthcare decision making, especially at the end of life.
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VSED: In the Absence of Legislation for Assisted Dying/MAiD
Tara & Sarah
Brendan Clarke’s nieces Tara and Sarah will be speaking about the impact of his diagnosis, the need for legislation drawing on their experience of supporting Brendan, what he endured and how a kinder, assisted death would have helped them, as well as being what Brendan, their dearly loved uncle wanted.
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What legislation in Ireland for Assisted Dying would have meant to us.
Jessica Young
Dr Jessica Young is a Cancer Society Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and senior research fellow in the School of Health at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and an adjunct senior lecturer in the Australian Centre for Health Law Research, at the Queensland University of Technology.
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How is Assisted Dying working in New Zealand? Experience, Evidence & Expert Views
