Dr. Annie McKeown O'Donovan:

When we look at consensual life ending it is something that is compassionate and happens when life is ending anyway, we can reduce our concern about killing as a medical treatment because what we are doing, as the Deputy said, is minimising harm and suffering at the end of life. It can be something that is done within a palliative care setting. It can be done as something that is a choice and it can be done with care. It is not something that all healthcare professionals would be obliged to take part in. There is also the argument that this happens in end of life settings anyway. People's suffering at the end of life is reduced and death is sometimes hastened as a foreseen consequence as opposed to an intended consequence of careful and compassionate treatments