Category Archives: better dead than disabled

Matt Valliere On the Many Harms of Medical Quality of Life Judgments

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On November 2, Newsweek published an excellent op-ed by Matt Valliere, Executive Director of the Patients Rights Action Fund (PRAF), entitled The Brutal, Tragic, Consequences of Quality of Life Judgements. Though PRAF’s mission is focused on opposing assisted suicide laws, the op-ed does an uncommonly good job discussing other discriminatory and harmful medical practices that … Continue reading Matt Valliere On the Many Harms of Medical Quality of Life Judgments →

NYAIL Presents 2021 David Veatch Advocacy Achievement Award to Diane Coleman

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NYAIL is the New York Association on Independent Living, a statewide, not-for-profit membership association created by and composed of Independent Living Centers across New York State. I was honored to receive NYAIL’s 2021 David Veatch Advocacy Achievement Award on September 29th. Below are my words of gratitude spoken at their virtual conference. Diane Coleman’s NYAIL … Continue reading NYAIL Presents 2021 David Veatch Advocacy Achievement Award to Diane Coleman →

John Kelly Letter Published In Boston Globe

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Push for assisted suicide raises questions over disability rights September 7, 2021 In response to an essay on the Victorian fantasy of a peaceful death, two letter writers (“Beyond the fantasy of a gentle death,” Aug. 29) called on the state Legislature to pass the proposed assisted suicide bill. Paula Bacon and Molly DeHaas Walsh describe … Continue reading John Kelly Letter Published In Boston Globe →

NDY, DREDF, Disability & Patient Rights Groups Oppose Lawsuit To Expand Assisted Suicide Law

"death with dignity", AAPD, Access Living, aid in dying, ASAN, assisted suicide, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, better dead than disabled, california, court cases, end-of-life options bills, national council on independent living, national suicide prevention week, Our News & Commentary Blog, Patients Rights Action Fund, Press Releases, United Spinal Assn., , , , , , ,

For Immediate Release: September 2, 2021 Disability, Patients’ Rights Groups Issue Joint Statement Opposing the Expansion of Assisted Suicide in Observance of Suicide Prevention Month Berkeley, California – In observance of Suicide Prevention Month this September, disability and patients’ rights leaders from California and across the United States joined together in solidarity to voice clear, … Continue reading NDY, DREDF, Disability & Patient Rights Groups Oppose Lawsuit To Expand Assisted Suicide Law →

Carol Cleigh Sutton: Ableism Is Violence

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Listening to the other presenters, many of whom  mentioned ableism, but most especially to the names being read – for more than an hour – during the Disability Day of Mourning, something I’ve known for years snapped into focus and demanded to be written: Ableism is Violence. The problem is Abled Chauvinism. Like men vis … Continue reading Carol Cleigh Sutton: Ableism Is Violence →