Is Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) a Moral Good?

October 30, 2024

7:30pm – 9:30pm

Location: 201 Paradise Road North, Hamilton, Ontario

Category: Conversations
Directions

TICKET INFORMATION HERE

 Is MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) or physician-assisted death a moral good?

In 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that individuals suffering from grievous medical conditions should have the right to seek assistance in dying under carefully controlled circumstances. Since then, there have been unsuccessful attempts at expanding MAiD to include those suffering from mental disorders as a sole underlying condition.

So, how should we think about MAiD? Is it a moral good? And is meaningful dialogue even possible when the opposing sides hold such different values and worldviews?

Noetic Shift is delighted to host a public conversation between Dr. James Downar and Dr. Ewan Goligher, two of the leading advocates in Canada for opposing sides of the MAiD debate. Intriguingly, they are also friends who have kept in touch since training together.

Join us on October 30 at 7:30 PM for this very important conversation!

About our speakers:

James_Downar_PhotoDr. James Downar will be arguing that MAiD is a moral good. He is a Critical Care and Palliative Care physician in Ottawa. He graduated from McGill Medical School and completed residency training in Internal Medicine, Critical Care and Palliative Care at the University of Toronto. He is Professor and Head of the Division of Palliative Care at the University of Ottawa, where he holds a Clinical Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care. He is the current President of the Canadian Critical Care Society and co-chair of the Pan-Canadian Palliative Care Research Collaborative. He has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and has been principal investigator on more than 25 peer-reviewed grants. In 2021 he received the Award of Excellence from the Ontario Medical Association’s Section on Palliative Medicine.

Ewan_Goligher_PhotoDr. Ewan Goligher will be arguing that MAiD is not a moral good. He is Associate Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Toronto. He studied medicine at the University of British Columbia and trained in internal medicine and critical care medicine at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on life-saving interventions for patients with acute lung failure. He has published over 200 papers and several book chapters. His work has been published in leading medical journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, JAMA, and subspecialty journals. He is also the author of "How Shall We Then Die? A Christian Response to Physician-Assisted Death", published by Lexham Press. As a specialist in critical care medicine, he cares for patients admitted to the intensive care unit with acute life-threatening illness, and he is regularly involved in helping patients and families navigate difficult decisions about medical care at the end of life.

About Noetic Shift:

Noetic Shift exists to thoughtfully and respectfully engage the culture of the greater Hamilton area. Rooted in a distinctive Christian perspective, Noetic Shift examines the philosophical and ideological assumptions and norms of our day considering issues of origin, meaning, hope, and identity. Read more about Noetic Shift HERE.