In response to the media coverage of Dr Philip Nitschke’s visit to Hong Kong, we make the following declaration: We object the promotion of suicide, and do not support euthanasia in Hong Kong We support rational discussions on euthanasia in the community, so people could understand issues of human suffering as well as the importance of good and adequate end-of-life care. However, Dr Nitschke is promoting more than "euthanasia" or "physician assisted suicide" for the terminally ill patients. In other parts of the world, he is promoting to the public various ways to commit suicide, including how to use a bag to suffocate oneself, and how to buy lethal drugs from Mexico. Although we respect an individual’s autonomy, it is unethical to promote suicide to the public. As an expression of our objection, we do not participate in dialogue with him. We object the promotion of suicide, and we do not support the practice of euthanasia in Hong Kong. Here, euthanasia means the direct intentional killing of the patient as part of the medical care being offered. The gravity of euthanasia far exceeds that of an individual choice. The far-reaching societal consequences of legalizing euthanasia, including the social issues induced, the impact on societal values, the negative implication on the chronically ill and the vulnerable groups, and the possibility of going down the slippery slope should be taken seriously. Requesting euthanasia or a wish to hasten death as expressed by patient is more often a quest for attention to and relief of pain and suffering. In many modern societies, various healthcare services, including palliative/hospice services, are being provided to relieve the pain and suffering of the patients. We are aware that in Hong Kong, palliative or hospice services have not covered all terminally ill patients. But this should not be an excuse to