“I find it depressing when any public discussion about improving the experience of dying is reduced to a debate about euthanasia in the opinion pages.

In the scientific community there’s a consensus our experience of pain and suffering isn’t simply biological. It’s related to our ideas about it – cultural beliefs, family involvement, fear and depression around dying — as well as the impact of socio-economic factors.

There are so many interesting and innovative approaches to dying. I think there are more productive ways to talk about how we can help.”