Professor Raphael Cohen-Almagor’s research focuses on patient autonomy at the end of life. This is an increasingly pressing concern with the advance of technology and longevity of life, stronger opposition to medical paternalism, greater emphasis on personal autonomy and more people wanting to be able to decide their time of death.
His research focuses on debates around patients’ self-determination and their consolidation into public policies. His research has broadened the understanding of legislators, judges, practitioners and patient organisations in relation to patient autonomy and potential risks of abuse of euthanasia policies.
Professor Cohen-Almagor’s work has multinational and multi-jurisdictional impact. His recommendations have directly shaped UK and international legislation, initiative and policy in the field. These include the implementation of Israel’s Dying Patient Law in 2008; Israel’s policy on organ transplants, which was adopted by the Israel Ministry of Health in 2014; and end of life legislative initiatives in countries across the globe including Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA.
His research has also examined the patient-physician relationship in end of life decisions as well as the issue of organ donation in end of life decisions.