For more information contact: Boonshoft School of Medicine, Judi Engle, Office of Public Relations, (937) 775-2951

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 1997

Law-Medicine Forum examines physician-assisted Suicide

DAYTON, OHIO -- Do terminally ill people have a constitutional right to a physician's help if they want to die? The U.S. Supreme Court is now grappling with this controversial question, and much public debate will be needed before the issue is settled.

A panel of Miami Valley lawyers, doctors and other health care leaders will debate the conflicting legal and ethical issues surrounding physician-assisted suicides at the 7th annual Law-Medicine Symposium sponsored by Wright State University School of Medicine and University of Dayton School of Law on Wednesday, January 29. "Physician-Assisted Suicide: Legal and Ethical Implications" will be held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Berry Room at the Ervin J. Nutter Center at Wright State University.

The symposium is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested. For more information, contact Wright State's Office of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at 937/775-3392.

"This interdisciplinary forum is designed to provide the type of broad public discussion needed if we can reasonably expect to arrive at a proper consensus about physician-assisted suicide," explains Professor Marshall Kapp, the symposium facilitator.

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