All posts by Stephen Drake

Disability Activists Testify, Bear Witness and Sing About Opposing Connecticut Assisted Suicide Bill

assisted suicide, Connecticut, disability activists, john kelly, legislation, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughts

Last week was a significant one in Connecticut.  On March 20, the Public Health Committee of the Connecticut legislature held a hearing on H.B. 6645, which would legalize assisted suicide in that state.  NDY board member and Director of Second Thoughts Massachusetts John Kelly testified in opposition to the bill.  Here’s a link to the … Continue reading Disability Activists Testify, Bear Witness and Sing About Opposing Connecticut Assisted Suicide Bill →

Bill Peace, Stephen Kuusisto and a Little from Me on the Growing Cheerleading Squad for Tomas Young’s Suicide

bigotry, bill peace, media, media bias, Our News & Commentary Blog, stephen Kuusisto, suicide, Tomas Young, VSED

I plan to put out a couple more posts today if my energy holds out.  There is a lot happening this week.   I think the first order of business is the rolling media nightmare unfolding in regard to Tomas Young.  (Apologies to all about the misspelling of his name – many folks writing on the … Continue reading Bill Peace, Stephen Kuusisto and a Little from Me on the Growing Cheerleading Squad for Tomas Young’s Suicide →

Bill Peace and Stephen Kuusisto React to “The Crucifixion of Thomas Young” by Chris Hedges

bill peace, blog recommendations, bloggers, hospice, Our News & Commentary Blog, spinal cord injury, stephen Kuusisto, suicide, VSED

Until last week, I’d never heard of Thomas Young.  But on March 13, Bill Peace published a disturbing post on his Bad Cripple Blog, titled “Thomas Young and Suicide: All the Wrong Questions Asked.“: I have not thought about Thomas Young in quite some time. He was featured in the 2007 documentary Body of War … Continue reading Bill Peace and Stephen Kuusisto React to “The Crucifixion of Thomas Young” by Chris Hedges →

Canada: CBC Interview with Norm Kunc About Disability Rights Advocates’ Opposition to Legalization of Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide

assisted suicide, Canada, CBC, disabilities, disability, disability rights, disability rights advocates, DNR, Do-Not-Resuscitate, euthanasia, media, media coverage, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog

Below is an embedded video.  It’s an interview of disability rights activist/advocate/scholar/author Norm Kunc.  He was with other anti-assisted suicide/euthanasia protesters in Vancouver yesterday.  A trancript of the interview is provided below video.  I transcribed it myself, so I cannot guarantee it’s error-free, but it’s at worst pretty darn close to verbatim. Norm Kunc: Well, … Continue reading Canada: CBC Interview with Norm Kunc About Disability Rights Advocates’ Opposition to Legalization of Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide →

Canada: Updates on Assisted Suicide Appeal in British Columbia

assisted suicide, Canada, court cases, Norm Kunc, Our News & Commentary Blog

A few updates: The hearing has been adjourned and rescheduled for March 18th. The Canadian Press, in its announcement of the adjournment, reported the reaction of disability activist/advocate/scholar Norm Kunc: Norm Kunc, who has cerebral palsy, says it’s naive to think that legalizing assisted death wouldn’t have implications on people with disabilities and he fears … Continue reading Canada: Updates on Assisted Suicide Appeal in British Columbia →