March 29th – Paul Bowen QC “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: the last Rights?”

Looking at the history of self-killing from classical antiquity through the period of prohibition by Church and State to the current era of partial decriminalisation, and discussing recent legal challenges including those of Diane Pretty, Debbie Purdy and Tony Nicklinson, Paul Bowen QC poses the question whether the time has now come to recognise a right to die at the time, and in the manner, of the individual’s choice.

 

Paul Bowen QC is a human rights barrister based at Doughty Street Chambers in London specialising in cases against the State and state bodies on behalf of vulnerable and marginalised individuals, in particular people with physical and mental disabilities, prisoners, asylum seekers, terrorist suspects and the families of people who have died in custody or at the hands of state agents.  He has a particular interest in the right of autonomy and acted for Debbie Purdy and Tony Nicklinson in their ‘right to die’ cases.  Paul lives in Brighton with his wife and two small children.