Our advisors
Cameron McLaren MD.
Dr Cameron McLaren is a Medical Oncologist from Melbourne, Victoria. He has been providing assisted dying assessments since the introduction of the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying Act. He strongly believes in patient-centred care and sees supporting patients’ applications to assisted dying as intrinsic to this. He is a Clinical Moderator of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Community of Practice; a resource for Victorian doctors to discuss their experiences, and a Board member of Dying with Dignity, Victoria. He is also undertaking a PhD in the effect of Voluntary Assisted Dying on patient-reported quality of life and the grief and bereavement experience of close contacts of assisted dying patients
David R. Grube MD.
David practiced Family Medicine in a small rural town in Oregon (USA) for 35 years, retiring in 2012. In 1999 a first patient asked him for medical aid in dying, and over the ensuing years he responded to patient’s requests approximately 30 times, both as Prescribing and Consulting Physician. In his role as National Medical Director for Compassion & Choices he lectures and mentor’s physicians, hospices, and medical staff about end-of-life options, and he has testified in the legislatures of numerous States.
Nick Carr MD.
Nick is a GP working in St Kilda, Victoria and honorary clinical senior lecturer in the Department of General Practice at The University of Melbourne. He did his medical training at Cambridge University and in London before moving to Melbourne in 1988. Nick is also a writer and broadcaster. He has written for many sources, including Crikey.com.au, and published a book for first time fathers. He appears regularly on radio and television. Nick is a Board member of Dying with Dignity Victoria, and has been actively involved with providing Voluntary Assisted Dying care since the Act commenced in June 2019.
Ayke Smook MD.
Ayke is a retired Dutch oncologist and surgeon, who has worked as a doctor since 1965. In private practice his patients taught him that curing is an obligation. However, if this becomes futile, the next step is care, then terminal care and, only if requested, medical Aid in Dying (MAD) will be available. In 1993 he was one of the founders of Right to Die Europe (RtDE) as a branch of WFRtDS and now serves as the president. After euthanasia law came into power the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG) he founded SCEN (Support and Consultation Euthanasia in the Netherlands) to help and ensure due care criteria as listed in the law are taken care of by the physician who is intending to help the patient to die with assisted dying. He joined that organization for over 20 years with 220 consultations, every time this was a very emotional experience.
