…“loss of autonomy” (89.9%), “less able to engage in activities” (87.4%), “loss of dignity” (83.8%), “loss of control of bodily functions” (58.7%) and “feelings of being a burden” (38.3%). (Death With Dignity Act Annual Reports, http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/pas/docs/yr11-tbl-1.pdf.). These are disability issues.   We Don’t Need To Die to Have Dignity: In a society that prizes physical ability and stigmatizes impairments, it’s no surprise that prev…

…led at the time of their assisted suicide request. Three of these reasons (loss of autonomy, loss of dignity, feelings of being a burden) could be addressed by consumer-directed in-home long-term care services, but no disclosures about or provision of such services is required. Some of the reported reasons are clearly psycho-social and could be addressed by disability-competent professional and peer counselors, but this is not required either. Mor…

…nd Physical Symptoms (Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry, 2004) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC486942/ [8] Beverly Kleiber, et al., Depression and Pain (Psychiatry, May 2005) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3000181/ [9] Chronic pain patients say opioid crackdown is hurting them (Chicago Tribune, June 5, 2017) http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-opioid-patients-backlash-met-20170603-story.html [10] Kelly…