Physician-Assisted Suicide

Dear Rabbi Dr Halperin,

My name is Victoria McKinnon and I am a Master of Studies student in Theology at the University of Oxford. I have received funding from the Oxford-Jerusalem Programme to travel to Jerusalem this month and conduct dissertation research at the Hebrew University and the Schlesinger Institute. My dissertation is a religious ethical analysis of physician-assisted suicide, through the use of a historical case study comparing PAS to the twentieth century eugenics movement. 

I will be in Jerusalem from May 28—June 4. I was wondering if you will be in the city during that time, and, if so, is there any way we could meet to discuss your thoughts and opinions on this topic from the perspective of Jewish medical ethics? I am researching it from a primarily Christian viewpoint, but I would like to engage with Jewish thought on the topic as well. I previously contacted Professor Samuel Kottek and he suggested I also contact you as Director General of the Schlesinger Institute.

With best wishes,

Victoria