Charles Killick Millard (1870–1952) was a British doctor who in 1935 founded the Voluntary Euthanasia Legalisation Society (now Dignity in Dying), a movement that campaigned for the legalisation of

euthanasia Euthanasia (from : + ) is the practice of intentionally ending life to eliminate pain and suffering. Different countries have different Legality of euthanasia, euthanasia laws. The British House of Lords Select committee (United Kingdom), se ...

in Great Britain. In addition to supporting euthanasia, Millard had supported movements advocating for temperance,

eugenics Eugenics is a set of largely discredited beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter the frequency of various human phenotypes by inhibiting the fer ...

cremation Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

and

birth control Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth control only be ...

, and help found the first birth control clinic in

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

. He received his MD degree in 1896 and served as Medical Officer of Health for Leicester from 1901 to 1935. There had been strong opposition to compulsory smallpox vaccination in Leicester for many years and, as a strong supporter of vaccination, Millard had to work within this established framework. Whilst still supporting vaccination he argued against compulsory vaccination of infants and the use of mass vaccination to control outbreaks. Instead, he advocated isolation of cases and voluntary vaccination of medical and nursing staff and of contacts of cases. This proved successful and was adopted generally when compulsory vaccination was abolished. His son Maurice Langley Millard MB ChB (1900–1987), educated at

Bradfield College Bradfield College is a coeducational public school (independent boarding and day school) for pupils aged 13–18, in the village of Bradfield, in Berkshire, in the United Kingdom. It is noted for its open-air Greek theatre and its trien ...

and

Birmingham University The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

, was a long-serving general medical practitioner in Leicester. In his younger days he was a noted rugby player for

Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers (officially Leicester Football Club) are a professional rugby union club based in Leicester, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby. The club was founded in 1880 and since 1892 plays its home ...

and also for the county team. In 1931 he married Barbara Morrison (1903–1987), youngest daughter of Peter William Purves and his wife Mary Gundred Warren; they had no children. He was an Anglican.

Selected publications

''The Vaccination Question in the Light of Modern Experience''
(1914)
''The End of Compulsory Vaccination''
(1948)

References

External links

*
Dignity in Dying (UK)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Millard, Killick 1870 births 1952 deaths 20th-century English medical doctors British birth control activists Euthanasia activists Unitarian Universalists Activists from Leicester Health professionals from Leicester People educated at Bradfield College