Dr Brian Johnston:

* Advocate for Elderly and Dependent

* California Commissioner on Aging

* Frequent spokesman on the threat of assisted suicide on CNN, etc.

* Author of "Death as a Salesman", a book on euthanasia

Mr Johnston serves on the Californian Commission on Ageing.

He has frequently assumed the role of a spokesman on the threat of assisted suicide, having appeared on CNN, World News Tonight, the McNeil-Leher News Hour and many other programs.

He is a member of California's Board of Examiners of Nursing Homes and serves on the board of directors of the National Legal Centre for Medically Dependant and Disabled.

Recently he published a book titled "Death as a Salesman - What's Wrong With Assisted Suicide".