Jan. 17, 2021. This program explained laws and practices of Voluntary Euthanasia and briefly reviewed Assisted Dying practices in various countries around the world.
Speakers: Rob Jonquiére, MD, Executive Director, World Federation of Right to Die Societies will report on the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and other European countries.
Asuncion Alvarez, PhD, Board Member, World Federation, A founder of Death with Dignity Mexico will report on Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Peru and Mexico.
Sean Davison, PhD, Chairman of the Board, World Federation Founder of Dignity South Africa will report on New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and his own situation involving two arrests.
Francesco Porcellati from Libera Uscita informed us about a promising ruling in Italian courts. From a Constitutional Court ruling in October 2019, part of article 580 of the Italian Criminal Code was deemed unconstitutional. The court recognized the right to a medically assisted suicide provided certain criteria were met, including: the person wanting to end his/her life should have legal capacity to make decisions, be suffering from irreversible pathologies that are the source of unbearable pain; be dependent on life-saving health treatments and have a wish to achieve a peaceful end. They also imposed the criteria that the health condition of the person be verified by a committee of the National Health Service. By this ruling the Parliament was tasked with modifying the text article 580 of the Italian criminal code that called for the punishment of those who simply gave assistance to a suicide.
Kathryn Tucker, JD is the Executive Director of the End-of-Life Liberty Project, Special Advocacy Advisor of the National Psychedelics Association, and Founding Board Member of the Psychedelic Bar Association. She has worked for over 3 decades to expand choice at the end of life. In this lecture recorded February 14, 2026, Kathryn discusses the ongoing effort to allow people facing death to seek relief from psychological suffering and die gently through psychedelic therapy. She challenges us to rethink one of life’s most universal experiences: dying.
Videography by Michael Daniels Phone 858-202-0507
While current medical advances help us live longer, they often fail to ensure a life of sufficient quality and dignity, especially for those facing Alzheimer’s or other dementias. This presentation by Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD examines four well-established end-of-life choices as well as five emerging choices. It also examines three theoretical options that push the boundaries of what may one day be legally possible in the U.S. Some of these ideas challenge public comfort and policy. But all are grounded in compassion, reason, and respect for personal choice. We hope you benefit from this informed and courageous discussion about how we might expand end-of-life options for aging Americans in the years ahead. https://www.thaddeuspope.com/
December 6, 2025. Doctors play a crucial role in the way we die as essential advisors, medical providers, and coordinators of our healthcare decisions and plans. In this meeting, a panel of 3 doctors discuss why they support Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), what changes they’d like to see in the law, and how they personally want to die. The panel also answered questions from the meeting participants.
SPEAKERS:
Curtis Krock, MD, A retired pulmonologist who practiced for 20 years and a member of the Hemlock Society Board of Directors.
Robert Gunn, MD, A retired physician whose wife chose Medical Aid in Dying.
Flora Danque, MD, Medical Director of Apreva Hospice.
October 19, 2025. Board Secretary Christie Golemb and lifetime member Pamela Harper present a history of our organization and an overview of end-of-life options.
