Last updated on: 7/19/2018 | Author: ProCon.org

Amir Attaran, LLB, DPhil, MS Biography

Title:
Professor of Law and Medicine and Canada Research Chair in Law, Population Health, and Global Development Policy at the University of Ottawa
Position:
Pro to the question "Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legal?"
Reasoning:

“In February 2015, Canada legalized physician-assisted dying — a first among countries with common-law systems, in which law is often developed by judges through case decisions and precedent…

These developments will trouble people who instinctively find legalized physician-assisted dying repellent. But increasingly, society is acknowledging that denying people the right to die with dignity and safety is even more repellent.”

“Unanimity on Death with Dying–Legalizing Physician-Assisted Dying in Canada,” nejm.org, May 28, 2015
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with MDs, JDs, PhDs, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to end-of-life issues. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to end-of-life.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Professor of Law and Medicine, University of Ottawa
  • Canada Research Chair in Law, Population Health, and Global Development Policy, University of Ottawa
  • Barrister and Solicitor, Law Society of Upper Canada, 2005-present
  • Faculty member, School of Public Health, Yale University, 2003-2005
  • Former Fellow, Chatham House (formerly Royal Institute of International Affairs)
  • Faculty member, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 2000-2005
  • Former Codirector, Commission of Macroeconomics and Health, World Health Organization, Center for International Development
  • Advisor, patent and trade law, Ministry of Health, Brazil, 2001
  • Environmental lawyer, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, 1999-2000
  • Former lawyer, Sierra Legal Defence Fund
Education:
  • LLB, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada), 1999
  • DPhil, Oxford University, 1996
  • MS, California Institute of Technology, 1992
  • Predoctoral Fellowship, Biomedical Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute for Graduate Studies
  • BA, Neuroscience, University of California at Berkeley,
Other:
  • Twitter handle: @profamirattaran
Quoted in:
  1. Is a Physician ever Obligated to Help a Patient Die?