A Dignified Ending: Taking Control Over How We Die
Dr. Lew Cohen, professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and palliative medicine researcher reads from his latest book with help from audience volunteers. Readings are from the first chapter which describes the planned voluntary double suicide of Admiral Chester Nimitz Jr. and his wife Joan. When they had lost their independence and had had enough with the various medical conditions that, despite good medical care, continued to worsen, Admiral Nimitz meticulously planned the suicide and, with the knowledge of various family members, carried it out in 2002.
Quotes about Dr. Cohen’s book:
Dr. Cohen does not hide his beliefs and opinions. He also does not shy away from the complexity of the issue – he interviews leading disability rights activists and challenges leaders of the aid in dying movement. His book is filled with narratives of the people and family, doctors and activist who have defined this movement.
–the hosts of GeriPal, a podcast for geriatricians and palliative medicine practitioners.
Rather than rehearse familiar arguments, Cohen’s vivid prose tells stories without shying away from missteps and conflicts. The most striking stories are of persons who chose to end their lives with the help of family, friends, and volunteers.
–Tom Murray, President Emeritus of The Hastings Center, the leading bioethics foundation in the US.
Setting aside that I’m mentioned in this book, this is an authoritative, sensitive, well-written account of the modern right-to-die movement. [It is an] in-depth investigation, yet a pleasure to read because of the human touch.
–Derek Humphry, founder of the Hemlock Society and author of the bestseller, Final Exit, which has been translated into 12 languages.
June 14, 2026. A candid and eye-opening conversation about Voluntary Assisted Death in Switzerland—why people consider it, how it works, and what families experience along the way
A wife’s story – Pat Spears shares her deeply personal journey and the decisions she and her husband, Bert – facing Alzheimer’s – made to travel to Switzerland.
A practical roadmap – John Watson, the mastermind behind The Switzerland Alternative, introduces a trusted resource for navigating end-of-life options in Switzerland.
Inside perspective – Experts from Pegasos explain the process, requirements, and realities of Voluntary Assisted Death in Switzerland.
On May 22, 2026, Professor Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, HEC-C, was the guest speaker for the Girsh endowed lecture on Medical Aid in Dying to the UCSD School of Medicine. The lecture begins at 11:05. Professor Pope reviewed the evolution of the California End of Life Option Act over its first decade, then discussed how medical aid in dying is likely to evolve over the next five years, including: (1) by expanding access to people with dementia, (2) by changing eligibility requirements, and (3) by amending safeguards to be more evidence based.
4/30/2026 From Dorset, England, Sean Davison, Ph.D. (microbiology)., discusses the legal challenges he has faced, including arrests and sentencing for assisting people in their efforts to die with dignity on their own terms. He also briefly discusses Voluntary Assisted Dying via Swiss clinics. Sean served for 5 years as the head of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies, worked with Pegasos Swiss Clinic, and is the author of 3 books.
March 29, 2026
Michelle Witte, FEN's newest Executive Director, spoke to the Hemlock Society of San Diego, sharing updates on FEN’s leadership transitions, the current state and promise of the Exit Guide Program, future plans, and insights into the most recent legal challenge. Q&A with the audience followed her presentation.
