2022 Big Debates

Cervical cancer causes more than 300,000 deaths every year. The HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent them. Yet its uptake has been less than ideal, because of challenges in providing the vaccine, but also in the acceptance of the vaccine. Because HPV is most often sexually, some people believe that immunisation will encourage unsafe sexual practices in young people.

There is little evidence that young people make decisions about sexual activity based on cancer risks. In order to increase uptake of the vaccine, many have suggested making vaccination a requirement for school entry in middle school. The recent experience with the COVID-19 vaccine has made compulsory vaccination more palatable.

Is it justifiable to make HPV vaccine mandatory to all males and females to reduce the deaths from cervical cancer worldwide?

This session addresses the sensitive question of aid in dying, offering insights into the complexities of this topic, including: 

• Should all cancer patients have the right to access medical aid in dying and to end their lives prematurely if they choose?
• What are the unintended consequences of making medical aid in dying legal and widely available prior to ensuring that all persons have access to palliative care and pain relief?
• When could medical aid in dying be made available? At any point in the cancer trajectory? 
• What does the research say about those who choose medical aid in dying and then actually carry it out? 
• What should oncology and palliative care professionals do when a patient requests medical aid in dying and is legally available but not considered part of their practice?