Simon Matskeplishvili MD, PhD, FESC, FACC

Simon Matskeplishvili is a leading cardiologist in Russia. He is a member of the European Society of Cardiology and is also a member of the American College of Cardiology, the institution known for its strict rules on accepting foreigners. Simon has been a part of the Bakulev Scientific Centre of Cardiovascular Surgery, a leading Russian cardiology centre, since his postgraduate studies there. Cardiology wasn’t Simon’s first choice of career, however when he accidentally walked in on a cardiology seminar, he was absolutely amazed by the subject. He believes to be a cardiologist, one has to be an artist and a philosopher. When asked about euthanasia, he says, “Every second of each person’s life is valuable. If you are not the one who gave life to that particular person, you are in no position to take it away.” Simon has experienced first hand, a situation when other’s lives were taken away-he was in one of the twin towers in New York, when a plane crashed into it, on the 9th of September, 2001.

At the beginning of the 20th century Russian lawyer Anatoly Konin, proposed a law on Euthanasia. But it has never been adopted. Today this issue is being discussed in Russia once again. More and more groups around the world are demanding "The right to Die with Dignity for the seriously ill, those who are doomed, anyway, and can no longer bare the severe suffering. But the society and the authorities disagree to live and let die. Why? Is Russia ready to - at least - start discussing the matter? The guest to answer questions today is a leading Russian Cardiologist, Dr. Simon Matskeplishvili.