University Of Baltimore Hosts 'Aid In Dying And End-Of-Life Option Act' Debate

From The University of Baltimore School of Law Center for Medicine and Law:

• Aid in Dying and the End-of-Life Option Act: Issues & Answers for the Policy Debate
• The University of Baltimore School of Law Center for Medicine and Law
• February 6, 2017 12:00 to 2:30 P.M.
• John and Frances Angelo’s Law Center at Corner of Mount Royal Ave. and N. Charles Street

Beginning January 2017, the Maryland General Assembly once again considers the End-of-Life Option Act, which if enacted would legalize physician aid in dying. Termed by some as death with dignity or physician-assisted suicide, aid in dying is a medical practice in which patients with mental capacity and a prognosis of six months or less may request, and physicians may prescribe, life-ending medication for self-administration, provided specific requirements are met. Oregon first legalized the practice in 1998; but the practice has been authorized in 5 additional states, including, Washington, Montana, Vermont, California, and Colorado. An aid-in-dying law passed the DC Council in November 2016 but implementation must await a decision by the U.S. Congress whether it will overrule the law.

This symposium will provide a balanced look at how the law would work in Maryland, if implemented, and review the issues and concerns from both sides of the debate. To provide your R.S.V.P. contact Gloria Joy, assistant to the Director, at gpjoy@ubalt.edu.

Moderator

• Natalie Ram, J.D., Assistant Professor of Law and Associate Director, Center for Medicine and Law, University of Baltimore School of Law

Presentation Supporting Aid in Dying

• Michael J. Strauss, MD, MPH, retired internist and health policy consultant

Presentation Opposed to Aid in Dying

• G. Kevin Donovan, MD, MA, Director, Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics, and Professor of Pediatrics, Georgetown University Medical Center

Panel to Comment and React

• Gary C. Norman, Esq. LLM, an attorney, consultant, and mediator partnered with a guide dog, serves as the Vice Chair at the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights.
• Terri L. Hill, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and member of the Maryland House of Delegates where she sits on the Health and Government Operations Committee and has served on the Death-with-Dignity Workgroup.
• Samantha Crane, J.D., Director of Public Policy at the national office of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).

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