End of Life Issues - Update: Care Not Killing Newsletter August 2007

1. UK Events
2. Scots Debate Dying
3. Canadian Conference 
4. Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia
5. Website
6. Action Points

1. UK Events 

Responding to our June eNewsletter, many of you are getting into action by organising awareness-raising events around the UK. We are pleased to be able to provide high-quality speakers for these, along with literature and multimedia material. In addition, we will be posting an advertisement for each event, as it approaches, on a dedicated area of our website.    

2. Scots Debate Dying 

In Edinburgh on 3rd October, The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh will be holding a day conference to debate physician assisted suicide. Quoting from its flier:

The College invites you to consider this important and solemn question in the company of physicians, lawyers, ethicists and people for whom this is a very personal issue. The conference will be of interest to healthcare professionals, lawyers, students in related disciplines and concerned members of the public. 

Vocal PAS supporter Jeremy Purvis - MSP and Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet Minister - will be speaking in favour of a change of legalisation. Speaking against him will be the lawyer and Liberal Democrat life peer, Lord Phillips of Sudbury.

We urge all our medical members, and others who are eligible and interested, to attend this event. Make your opinion count. 

3. Canadian Conference

If you are able to travel much further afield, in late November the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition will be hosting a three day International Symposium in Canada. Care Not Killing will be present and our campaign director, Dr Peter Saunders, will be speaking alongside many other influencial anti-assisted- dying figures. 

4. Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia 

Back at home though, our support base continues to grow as more individuals and organisations join our Alliance. In particular, we welcome Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia, a new voice for nurses who are opposed to assisted dying.

Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia’s principal aims are to protect patients from practices aimed at killing them, and to support the nurses and relatives of those patients who are under threat of euthanasia. 

It aims to achieve these through education; political and professional lobbying; and providing a support network for all nurses, allied professionals and the relatives of patients who have concerns relating to euthanasia. 

Nurse and founder Miss Teresa Lynch will be speaking about Nurses Opposed to Euthanasia at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 25th September at 24 Smith Terrace, London. SW3 4DL

5. Website 

We continue to be committed to providing an up to date, informative website. Apart from a regularly updated home page, the site hosts a wealth of information about palliative care and the intricacies of the assisted dying debate. Do make full use of this excellent resource.

6. Action Points 

Over this summer:

• Stay informed. Although the Joffe Bill was defeated last year, we expect further legislation to start making its way through Parliament soon.

• Speak up. As and when media stories break, write to newspapers and politicians. Medical members can also write to BMA News and the medical journals and magazines. 

• Fundraise. Last year we achieved so much on a very tight budget. We now need funds for several new projects. Every donation, no matter how small, is gratefully received. 

• Organise. Are you in a position to organise an awareness-raising event? Why not ring us on 020 7234 9680 or drop us an e-mail to discuss your ideas and requirements?

Care Not Killing