Dr. Brendan O'Shea:

It is to the credit of this committee that the words "slippery slope" did not enter into these proceedings until well over an hour into them. It is a term that really gets us wildly excited. We understand with this is likely to look like. In this country, in the order of 33,000 to 35,000 people die each year. We understand from other health systems that typically, this measure becomes of interest to about one in ten of all those people and of those for whom it becomes an interest or relevant, typically less than two or three will actually apply and proceed.

In this country the system required is likely to cater for about 1,000 to 1,500 people over the next three to four years as people become aware and it is embedded in the culture. We can call that a slippery slope if we want.