A sociology professor and expert on assisted suicide at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Metropolitan Vancouver hasn’t taught there for six years under a secret agreement that earns him $87,000 a year to stay home.
The ongoing absence of Russel Ogden, a professor of sociology and criminology, according to a story in the National Post, has led to the appearance of posters on campus, including one that asks, “What has Kwantlen done with Russel Ogden?”
But under a legal settlement reached in 2008, neither the university nor the researcher will say. Alex Schadenberg, the head of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, based in London, Ontario, says there is “no mystery. Kwantlen doesn’t want to be involved with a person whose activities are very close to being illegal.”
Schadenberg added that Ogden is not a neutral scientific observer. “He is an advocate. He is a key player in the Farewell Foundation,” a B.C. organization which promotes recognition of a “right to die” and whose purpose is “to provide assistance to members of the Society to end their lives by self-chosen death.”
Ogden readily admits to being “present for 11 deaths—suicides or assisted suicides” as part of his research into assisted suicide. But he says he has never assisted, nor has the Farewell Foundation. “We cannot assist,” he told LifeSiteNews. “It is unlawful. But we are preparing an organization to provide assistance when it becomes legal.”
Ogden argues that since suicide itself is not a crime, it should be available to those unable to bring about their own death due to a disability. He would like to see Canada adopt the Swiss model, which he sees as more transparent and accountable than what is found in Belgium, the Netherlands, Washington, or Oregon. “In Switzerland, every assisted suicide is reported as such to the authorities and triggers an investigation by the coroner, the police and the prosecutor,” he said.
Ogden told LifeSiteNews, “I am not free to discuss the reasons why I am not teaching” but did insist it had nothing to do with his being one of five directors of the Farewell Foundation. “I haven’t taught since the fall of 2008. The foundation was created in 2011.”
For its part, Kwantlen Polytechnic University affirmed in a written statement its “longstanding commitment to the protection of academic freedom, and to the provision of support of its researchers.” The statement also insists KPU is complying with its agreement with Ogden, which includes a dispute resolution process that he is free to invoke if he has any complaint. Beyond that, according to KUP’s statement, “The agreement between Mr. Ogden, the KFA [Kwantlen Faculty Association] and KPU requires all parties to keep its terms strictly confidential. KPU will accordingly not be commenting further about this matter.”
But in a December complaint to the federal government ‘s Interagency Secretariat on Research, Simon Fraser University criminologist J. Lowman said that Kwantlen approved Ogden’s request for funds to conduct his research in 2004 but in 2006 told him, “You are not to engage in any illegal activity including attending at an assisted death.”
In previous interviews over several years Ogden displayed for a Vancouver Sun reporter a complete do-it-yourself suicide kit, including a helium tank and a no-leak mask. His presence at suicides led to several subpoenas and one arrest, though no charges have ever been laid against him. In his interview with LifeSiteNews he makes clear that he knows assisting a suicide is illegal and that he wouldn’t knowingly break the law.
Asked if he would like to be allowed to teach, Ogden told LifeSiteNews, “I would like to practice my trade.”
But others are glad he can’t. John Hof, director of United for Life British Columbia, said, “I think it’s a wonderful idea that Mr. Ogden is not free to present his ideas to college students. I’ve seen him often enough over the years to know he is part of the agenda to reduce protection of vulnerable human beings at the end of their lives.”