Society for Old Age Rational Suicide
Encyclopedia
The Society for Old Age Rational Suicide (SOARS) is a pressure group that campaigns for doctor-assisted suicide for elderly people with serious health problems but who are not necessarily terminally ill. The group was founded by Dr Michael Irwin
and Nan Maitland on December 10, 2009 (Human Rights Day
) in Brighton
, England
.
The Society has had two annual lectures. The first was given by the moral philosopher Lady Mary Warnock. The second was given by journalist and author Virginia Ironside
.
In 2011, Michael Irwin, who was struck off the medical register after assisting in eight suicides, helped Maitland travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to allow her to die. Maitland did not have a terminal illness but had arthritis
. Irwin plans to assist a woman from Eastbourne, also suffering from arthritis, travel to Dignitas.
Irwin and Maitland's actions have been opposed by both Care Not Killing
and by the more mainstream assisted dying campaign group Dignity in Dying
.
Michael Irwin
Michael Henry Knox Irwin is a retired GP and former medical director of the United Nations. He is a humanist and secularist activist and a campaigner for voluntary euthanasia.-Life:...
and Nan Maitland on December 10, 2009 (Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December.The date was chosen to honor the United NationsGeneral Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10 December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , the first global enunciation of human rights...
) in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The Society has had two annual lectures. The first was given by the moral philosopher Lady Mary Warnock. The second was given by journalist and author Virginia Ironside
Virginia Ironside
Virginia Ironside is a British journalist and author. She is the daughter of painter and coin designer Christopher Ironside and fashion designer and professor of fashion design at the Royal College of Art Janey Acheson. Ironside writes a column, "Dilemmas", for The Independent and a monthly column...
.
In 2011, Michael Irwin, who was struck off the medical register after assisting in eight suicides, helped Maitland travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to allow her to die. Maitland did not have a terminal illness but had arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
. Irwin plans to assist a woman from Eastbourne, also suffering from arthritis, travel to Dignitas.
Irwin and Maitland's actions have been opposed by both Care Not Killing
Care Not Killing
Care, Not Killing is an alliance of several organisations who are opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in the United Kingdom.-Alliance members:The members of the alliance include:* British Council of Disabled People...
and by the more mainstream assisted dying campaign group Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying is a United Kingdom nationwide campaigning organisation. It is funded by voluntary contributions from members of the public, and as of December 2010, it claimed to have 25,000 actively subscribing supporters...
.