Dr. Miriam Colleran:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to answer. This is an extremely important topic. I am approaching it from the perspective of my work with the patients and families we care for and also from my lived experience as a family caregiver. Both of my parents died of rare cancers. My mother died at home and my father died in hospital in ICU, so I am also coming from the perspective of a family caregiver. I also have an interest in quality. Professor Doherty and I co-authored an article examining assisted suicide and euthanasia from a quality perspective. That paper was published earlier this year. I can forward it to the committee. It looks at this question from a quality and safety perspective because a new medication or a new intervention that is being started goes through a series of trials, as Senators and TDs will be aware. We are always considering risks and benefits but here we have the ultimate risk of inappropriate death. What we see happening internationally, sadly, with the introduction of assisted dying is that - I have no doubt it comes from a perspective of compassion on all sides among those considering this topic - it gets introduced for persons who have terminal illnesses as a group in society. I have to say I am a bit uncomfortable about that because that involves picking a group in society, treating them differently and othering them. It is well intentioned but it means picking a group in society and saying, "We are going to treat you differently."