Assisted Suicide Is Not About Autonomy; It Is A Symptom of Systems Which Deny Autonomy To Sick And Disabled People

August 8, 2022"death with dignity", ableism, assisted suicide, guest blog, Italy, Kathleen Nicole O'Neal, long term services and supports, Our News & Commentary Blogableism, assisted suicide, Federico Carboni, medical aid in dyingDiane Coleman

…his own terms should be available to all disabled people everywhere in the world. When a disabled person says that they “do not have a minimum of autonomy in daily life,” then that is an indictment of a society and a system that disrespects their equality and civil rights. And the solution to this is not to push assisted suicide as the way to deal with medically complicated individuals – it is to seek to ensure the autonomy of the disabled person…

John Kelly Op-Ed Opposing Assisted Suicide Bill Published In The Quincy Sun

August 18, 2022"death with dignity", ableism, aid in dying, assisted suicide, Canada, john kelly, Massachusetts, medical discrimination, op-ed, Our News & Commentary Blog, thaddeus popeassisted suicide, John Kelly, medical aid in dying, op-edDiane Coleman

…o make the request, serve as a witness along with a “friend,” pick up the drugs and, because no disinterested witness is required at the death, administer the drugs themselves. The law grants immunity to anyone who assists in the death who say they acted “in good faith.” Deadly abuse goes unpunished and unnoticed. Third, terminal prognoses are notoriously inaccurate. NPR reported a few years ago that nearly one in five people who enter hospice sur…

DREDF Files Amicus Brief On Behalf of 12 Disability Groups In Euthanasia Case

October 28, 2022aid in dying, amicus brief, assisted suicide, court cases, court decisions, courts, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, end-of-life options bills, euthanasia, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, court cases, Dredf, euthanasia, Friend of the Court BriefDiane Coleman

…quirement secures an essential moral and legislative line between assisted suicide and euthanasia. ———— Organizations signing on to the brief include: Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, American Association of People with Disabilities, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, Disability Rights Legal Center, National Council on Independent Living, Not Dead…

New Hampshire Assisted Suicide Bill Redefines “Terminal Condition” Broadly Enough to Make Anyone With a Significant Disability or Chronic Condition Eligible

January 31, 2014assisted suicide, legislation, New Hampshire, slippery slopeassisted suicide, legislation, New Hampshire, slippery slopeStephen Drake

…ecific definitions used in a bill when it comes to applying it in the real world as law. Make no mistake. This bill, if passed, will guarantee an easy suicide to just about any person with diagnoses of quadriplegia, spinal muscular atrophy, HIV/AIDS, and many other conditions disabilities. Nothing to help people who could have many happy years with the right supports – just an easy and cheap out. There’s a Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill F…

New Mexico Lower Court Parrots the Language and Platitudes of Assisted Suicide Advocacy Groups

January 14, 2014assisted suicide, court cases, court decisions, diane coleman, New Mexico, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, court decision, Diane Coleman, New MexicoDiane Coleman

…on those around her, and is not at risk of being administered the lethal drugs without her consent. It would be nice if everyone with a difficult illness could have the same confidence. But in the real world, where elder abuse is on the rise, C&C’s platitudes should not distract us from our collective obligation to consider the impact on everyone, not just the privileged few. What needs to happen next is an appeal by the New Mexico Attorney Gener…