The one-day event is scheduled for October 24.
Assisted suicide is a topic that continues to attract significant public interest.
Oregon has become the first state to pass enabling legislation, affirmed in a public referendum, and the Supreme Court has issued two recent rulings in assisted suicide cases. Scholars and ethicists have weighed in on both sides of the issue, setting patients' right to self-determination against society's interest in preserving life. This conference is not designed to present the pros and cons. Rather, it will explore the factors that may lead an individual to opt to end his or her life, examine public opinion about assisted suicide, consider ways to reduce the demand for assisted suicide and ponder the profound ethical challenges raised by the practice. The conference will feature several prominent figures in the field.