Experts on medically assisted dying

The following University of Victoria experts are available to media this week to comment on impacts of the special committee report on medically assisted dying tabled today in Parliament and how it might inform draft federal legislation and decisions surrounding palliative care.

Eike-Henner Kluge (Dept. of Philosophy) is an expert in medical ethics and recently participated in a federal and provincial panel to discuss possible legislation on medically assisted dying. He has developed a proposal—available as a PDF online—for restructuring the Criminal Code of Canada. The founding director of the Canadian Medical Association's Department of Ethics and Legal Affairs, Kluge was the ethics advisor to BC resident Sue Rodriguez in the 1990s and was the first expert witness in medical ethics recognized by Canadian courts. He has also presented testimony to Royal Commissions and Parliamentary Committees and has served as a consultant to Health Canada, as well as various provincial health ministries and health regions. (He has limited availability today due to teaching hours.) (Offices: 250-721-7519 on campus or 250-642-0132 at home and by email at ekluge@uvic.ca)

Kelli Stajduhar (School of Nursing / Centre on Aging) is an expert in palliative and end-of-life care. Her research focuses on identifying the elements needed for a comprehensive and coordinated system of health care for people at the end of their lives, and points to a largely unaddressed issue: in countries where legislation exists, requests for medically assisted dying decrease if given access to well-resourced palliative care. Stajduhar co-leads an initiative aimed at early-integration of palliative philosophies and services into nursing care for people with life-limiting or chronic illness. Her findings are informing policy development and front-line health care practice and her research in palliative and end-of-life care. (She has limited availability today due to teaching hours.) (Office: 250-721-7487 or by email at kis@uvic.ca)

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