'At the End of the Day', a public debate held last night by King's and the Christian Evidence Society, explored the ethical, moral and spiritual questions raised by end-of-life issues.
Brought to the fore by the High Court battle and subsequent death of Tony Nicklinson, a 'locked-in syndrome' sufferer who fought for the right to end his life, the assisted dying debate has received extensive attention in recent months.
Last night at King’s, Lord Falconer, chair of the Commission on Assisted Dying, argued strongly in favour of assisted dying, whilst Professor Nigel Biggar, Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, University of Oxford, argued for the law to remain unchanged. Addressing members of the public, students and academic colleagues, Lord Falconer expressed his conviction that as everyone dies people should have the choice to decide when and how they end their lives.
Professor Biggar said he had wrestled for years with the complex issues inherent in the debate and had not reached a truly satisfying conclusion, but he affirmed his belief that, as a rule, people should be encouraged and supported to live.
Lord Harries of Pentregarth, the former Bishop of Oxford, chaired the debate.
The Revd Professor Richard Burridge, Dean of King’s College London, said: ‘It was a privilege to host this event with Lord Falconer, Professor Biggar and Lord Harries, and I was glad to see that those attending included students from a variety of different Schools and Departments across the College.’
He added: ‘This was an important debate for the College and for the country.’
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