Boston Globe photo caption and credit: Disability-rights advocate John Kelly, director of Second Thoughts Massachusetts, at his Fenway apartment. The group opposes what it calls “assisted suicide.” Barry Chin/Globe Staff
Voices from the ‘right to die’ debate
By Robert Weisman Globe Staff,Updated December 11, 2022, 5:20 p.m.
In anticipation of the upcoming reintroduction of an assisted suicide bill in Massachusetts, Boston Globe reporter Robert Weissman had a pro assisted suicide [“medical aid in dying”] article and sidebar appearing on page 1 in the online version on the evening of December 11th. The main article is entirely proponent arguments, while the sidebar piece includes both proponent and opponent arguments.
Not Dead Yet’s John Kelly was included in the voices featured in the sidebar article. Here is the excerpt reflecting some of John’s perspective:
Disability-rights advocate John Kelly, who lives in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, is director of Second Thoughts Massachusetts, a group opposing what it calls “assisted suicide.” He’s also a quadriplegic who injured his spinal cord in a sledding accident 38 years ago.
Kelly, 64, has testified against medical aid-in-dying legislation and organized a rally against the appeal to legalize it through the Supreme Judicial Court. He condemns a “better dead than disabled” mindset he sees in those distressed about loss of control at the end of their lives.
“Proponents say it’s about pain and suffering,” Kelly said. “But it’s relatively privileged people’s response to their own disability and dependence on others.”
Folks with disabilities often grapple with a lack of access to health care and home care services, he said. “Everyone should receive effective palliative care,” he said. “But we also believe people should be able to stay in their home and have adequate care there. This is really a values discussion masquerading as a medical issue.”
Kelly is also highly skeptical of treating a physician’s six-month prognosis as an exact science.
“People have to remember that doctors are often wrong about predicting when someone will die,” he said.
1 thought on “NDY’s John Kelly Among Those Featured in Boston Globe Article on Assisted Suicide”
A big ‘Thank you’ to John Kelly and to the other men and women who helped create “Not Dead Yet.” I know someone who attempted suicide at the age of 46, but now, 15 years later, is very glad his attempt failed. (And so is his 9 year old daughter.)
I also know three people in New England with significant long-term medical issues; all three are being coaxed into thinking about assisted suicide as a ‘solution’ , by some very evil doctors in Eastern Mass. God Bless NDY for all you do.
Boston Globe photo caption and credit: Disability-rights advocate John Kelly, director of Second Thoughts Massachusetts, at his Fenway apartment. The group opposes what it calls “assisted suicide.” Barry Chin/Globe Staff
A big ‘Thank you’ to John Kelly and to the other men and women who helped create “Not Dead Yet.” I know someone who attempted suicide at the age of 46, but now, 15 years later, is very glad his attempt failed. (And so is his 9 year old daughter.)
I also know three people in New England with significant long-term medical issues; all three are being coaxed into thinking about assisted suicide as a ‘solution’ , by some very evil doctors in Eastern Mass. God Bless NDY for all you do.