Category Archives: ableism

NDY Issues Statement Opposing the Proposed “Public Charge” Rule

ableism, discrimination, Medicaid, Medicare, Our News & Commentary Blog

Not Dead Yet Opposes Proposed “Public Charge” Rule[1] Not Dead Yet joins a large number of other disability, immigrant and other civil rights organizations in strongly opposing the “Public Charge” rule proposed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The proposed rule discriminates against people with disabilities, people with health problems, the old, the young and lower … Continue reading NDY Issues Statement Opposing the Proposed “Public Charge” Rule →

Open Letter To American Medical Students Concerning Assisted Suicide

"death with dignity", ableism, ADAPT, aid in dying, American Medical Student Assn., assisted suicide, Our News & Commentary Blog, , , ,

Over the years, I’ve had a number of opportunities to provide presentations on disability related topics to university medical students. Instructors invited me to speak because they saw a problem in the fact that medical education included very little training on disability and independent living. That always struck me as odd considering the higher need … Continue reading Open Letter To American Medical Students Concerning Assisted Suicide →

Disability Activists Protest Policy Statement Issued by American Association of Suicidology

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On October 17, 2017, the American Association of Suicidology issued a statement announcing that physician assisted suicide is not “suicide”. The Executive Summary states: “The American Association of Suicidology recognizes that the practice of physician aid in dying, also called physician assisted suicide, Death with Dignity, and medical aid in dying, is distinct from the … Continue reading Disability Activists Protest Policy Statement Issued by American Association of Suicidology →

W. Carol Cleigh: Bigotry in the BDTD (Better Dead Than Disabled) Movement

"death with dignity", ableism, assisted suicide, better dead than disabled, bigotry, euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia, Our News & Commentary Blog, VSED, , ,

I’ve been saying for years that the movement to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia is a loaded gun aimed directly at people with long-term disabilities (http://notdeadyet.org/2014/01/guest-blog-by-w-carol-cleigh-not-paying-attention.html). Though I usually value being proved correct, not so much in this case. But the blatant bigotry I’ve recently seen in that movement surprised even me. I attended a … Continue reading W. Carol Cleigh: Bigotry in the BDTD (Better Dead Than Disabled) Movement →

Carol Cleigh Sutton: I Oppose Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Because It Is Ableist

"death with dignity", ableism, aid in dying, assisted suicide, better dead than disabled, euthanasia, Our News & Commentary Blog, ,

The very heart of the argument for assisted suicide/euthanasia (AS/E) is that an individual may be better off dead than disabled. The fact that this argument can be made in respectable public forums demonstrates just how ableist this society is. How deeply the severely abled fear and loathe those of us who live with disability. … Continue reading Carol Cleigh Sutton: I Oppose Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Because It Is Ableist →