9. STUDY DAY - The Assisted Dying Debate: Ethics, Law and Practice - 4th April 2025

Join CMSUK for an insightful and thought-provoking study day exploring one of the most critical and complex topics of our time: the Assisted Dying Bill.  This event will bring together experts from healthcare, law, ethics, and advocacy to discuss the Assisted Dying Bill's far-reaching implications on end-of-life care, patient autonomy, and the legal frameworks that shape decision-making.

What to Expect:

• Keynote Talks: Hear from leading voices in law, healthcare, and ethics, including those both for and against the Bill, ensuring a balanced and nuanced discussion.
• Panel Discussion: Engage with our panel of experts as they debate the ethical, practical, and legal challenges surrounding assisted dying.
• Audience Q&A: An opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share perspectives, and contribute to this important conversation.

Who Should Attend:

This study day is designed for professionals and individuals with an interest in the legal, ethical, and practical dimensions of assisted dying, including:

• Case Managers
• Healthcare Professionals
• Legal Practitioners
• Ethicists and Academics
• Carers and Support Workers
• Policy Makers and Advocacy Groups

If you are connected to or working for a charity or the NHS, please email info@cmsuk.org, and we would be happy to offer you a membership rate for this study day.

Why Attend?

This is an essential opportunity to gain valuable insights into the ongoing debate surrounding assisted dying, understand its impact on practice, and hear expert perspectives in a respectful and collaborative setting.

Itinerary

The Assisted Dying Debate: Ethics, Law and Practice

Date: 4th April 2025
Location: Irwin Mitchell London

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09:30 AM – 10:00 AM | Registration and Welcome Coffee

Attendees check-in, network, and enjoy refreshments.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM | Opening Remarks

Speaker: CMSUK Directors Lisa Brown / Angie Wicks

Introduction to the day, objectives, and structure of the event.

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM | Keynote Presentation: The Legal Landscape of Assisted Dying

Speaker: Alex Ruck-Keene KC

• Overview of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill : current legal framework and proposed changes.
• Legal challenges and safeguards to balance patient autonomy with ethical concerns.

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM | Ethical Dimensions of Assisted Dying

Speaker: Professor Claire de Than

• Exploring the ethical principles underpinning the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill .
• Challenges in implementing ethical guidelines and their societal implications.

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM | Coffee Break and Networking

12:15 PM – 13:00 PM | Palliative Care and the Role of Healthcare Professionals

Speaker: Dawn Sears

• Understanding the intersection between palliative care and assisted dying.
• Practical considerations for healthcare professionals navigating the bill.

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Lunch Break

Enjoy lunch and informal networking with fellow attendees.

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | Patient Autonomy and Advocacy

Speaker:

• The role of patient advocacy in shaping legislation.
• Real-life stories: empowering patients to make informed decisions about end-of-life care.

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM | Religious and Cultural Perspectives on Assisted Dying

Speaker: Lucy Honeysett

• explores diverse beliefs and traditions, offering insight into how faith and culture shape attitudes toward end-of-life decisions.

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Coffee Break

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM | Case Study:

Speaker: Yvonne Spijkerman

• Yvonne experienced the loss of her father, who, with the full support of the family, her father chose assisted dying - a legal and supported option in Holland. She has courageously offered to share her deeply personal story at the study day, providing a perspective as a daughter and family member,

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Interactive Q&A Panel

Speakers: All presenters

• Attendees engage with the speakers to discuss real-world implications, ask questions, and share perspectives.

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Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) is an experienced barrister, writer and educator. His practice at 39 Essex Chambers is focused on mental capacity, mental health and healthcare law. He also writes extensively, editing and contributing to leading textbooks, and is the creator of the website Mental Capacity Law and Policy.   Alex complements his practice with a deep interest in research and education. Amongst other positions, he is a Professor of Practice at the Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London and a Visiting Professor at the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, University of West London.   Alex now spends much of his time on policy matters, including, currently, as a consultant on the Law Commission’s Disabled Children Social Care project.  In March 2022, Alex was made an honorary KC, reflecting his contributions to mental capacity and mental health law outside the court room.

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Professor Claire de Than is an award-winning senior legal academic of more than 25 years’ standing, and Chair of the Jersey Law Commission, currently working on a Criminal Code and on laws relating to open justice.

She has over 85 academic publications in total, including more than 15 books, chapters in leading legal monographs and edited collections, and articles in a variety of leading national and international journals, including the Modern Law Review and the Criminal Law Review. Her publications and reform proposals have been adopted by governments, regulators and professions around the world. Her legal research fields include disability rights law, media law, financial law, criminal law, comparative law of tiny jurisdictions, trusts, environmental crimes and human rights law, and she is also expert in management and finance, all of which she is able to teach at any level. She is also regularly consulted on public and strategic policy.She has been an expert for the Law Commission of England and Wales on two recent projects, and made many media appearances as a legal expert. She has advised governments large and small and many organisations on human rights and law reform issues, amongst other things. She is the Chair of several charities.

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Lucy Honeysett is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 26 years of experience in the care sector, spanning roles as a carer, nurse, and clinical nurse specialist. Her extensive career has primarily focused on palliative care, where she has worked in diverse settings, including care homes, hospices, hospitals, and supporting adults with learning disabilities.

In June 2023, Lucy took on the role of Lead Co-ordinator for Christians in Care, a network funded by Pilgrims' Friend Society. This initiative seeks to encourage and inspire Christian faith-based professionals in the care sector, while also promoting care work as a meaningful and rewarding vocation. Through this role, Lucy has become a vocal advocate on critical issues affecting the care industry, such as Modern Slavery and the implications of the Assisted Dying Bill on vulnerable populations.

Lucy is passionate about ensuring equitable access to high-quality end-of-life care and continues to contribute as a sessional advisor for her local hospice, offering support to informal carers and delivering end-of-life care training to care staff. Drawing from her professional expertise and compassionate perspective, Lucy is a strong advocate for addressing the multifaceted challenges of suffering and total pain, while raising awareness about the ethical and practical implications of assisted dying.

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With over 25 years in healthcare, Dawn Sears brings extensive expertise and compassion to her work. Beginning her career on a Head and Neck Unit, she gained valuable experience in ENT, Maxillofacial, and Ophthalmology care, shaping her empathetic perspective on end-of-life care and advocacy for open discussions around assisted dying.

Her diverse career includes roles in Custody and Forensic Nursing and over a decade as a Community Matron, where she supported patients with complex conditions, coordinated palliative care, and ensured dignified, patient-centered treatment.

Dawn is committed to improving quality of life for those with life-limiting illnesses, balancing medical expertise with deep compassion.

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Paypal or BACS transfer payments accepted only.  Please enter your name and/or invoice number as reference.
Delegate passes are non-transferrable and non-refundable.  

The member rate applies to those with a paid annual membership only and not those with a pending or lapsed membership. 

If you have any questions or queries please email us info@cmsuk.org or call 01329 446959.

Venue	Irwin Mitchell, 40 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1N 2PZ
Date	Friday 4th April 2025 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Email	info@cmsuk.org