All are welcome to attend this debate on Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS). There will be short opening remarks by our presenters, followed by the debate, with 30 minutes at the end for audience questions. We are very excited to have some experts in this field participate in this debate, including a physician who has participated in PAS.
POST-EVENT SUMMARY: One hundred and sixty-five (165) people attended. The debate began with catered desserts and beverages in the lobby from 6:30-7:00pm. This turned out to be the perfect amount of time to let people trickle in, mingle with others, get some food, and take their seats.
At 7:00pm, Morgan Kohls & Laura Sooy, OSU-BRI co-presidents, and Isabelle Berrisford (OSU Bioethics) introduced BRI, the OSU Bioethics society, and our moderator, Dr. Stephanie Fabbro. Dr. Fabbro then gave a brief history of PAS/PAID in the US and provided some helpful definitions for the audience. She then introduced the debaters, and allowed for pre-debate voting. Each debater was then given 3 minutes to make an opening statement. Next, a series of 8 questions were asked. Each question was aimed towards a particular debater. That debater was given 2 minutes, their teammate was given two minutes, and then one member of the opposition was allowed a two minute rebuttal. After all questions were asked, there was time for closing statements from each debater, audience questions, then post-debate voting. The side in opposition to PAS/PAID won the debate.
The event exceeded my expectations and other experiences. Each debater was knowledgeable and persuasive in different ways. The turnout was great and the audience seemed engaged the entire time.
The only thing I would change is that we went a little overtime with main questions, which only allowed for four audience questions. The debaters also took a great deal of time back and forth on the audience questions. In the future, I would try to put a little more structure in audience questions (directed towards only one or two individuals, rather than open), and would save a couple less important main questions for last so that they could be cut if necessary.” ~Morgan Kohls, OSU-BRI co-president
“Thank you for organizing this; I’m glad I came!” ~student attendee
MODERATOR:
Dr. Stephanie Fabbro, M.D., The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
In support:
Dr. Timothy E. Quill, M.D., University of Rochester Medical Center
Sharona Hoffman, J.D., Case Western Reserve University
In opposition:
Dr. Ryan Nash, M.D., MA, FACP, FAAHPM, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Dr. Eric Chevlen, M.D., Northeast Ohio Medical University