RELEASE: Massachusetts Disability Rights Activists to Testify Against Assisted Suicide Initiative

assisted suicide, disability activists, disability rights, john kelly, karen schneiderman, legislation, Massachusetts, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughts

People with Disabilities Opposing the Legalization of Assisted Suicide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 6, 2012
CONTACTS
John Kelly 617- 250-8918
Karen Schneiderman 617-338-6665, ext. 204
 
Disability Rights Group Second Thoughts to Testify against Assisted Suicide Initiative
Disability rights activists from across Massachusetts will be speaking today before the Massachusetts legislature’s joint Judiciary Committee in opposition to a ballot question legalizing assisted suicide. The activists are members of the recently formed group, Second Thoughts: People with Disabilities Opposing the Legalization of Assisted Suicide. The hearing will be at 1 p.m. in room A-2 at the State House.
“Second Thoughts believes that legalized assisted suicide would make for a dangerous mix with our broken down, profit-driven health care system,” said John Kelly, the group’s director.
“Economic and family pressures can make elderly and disabled people feel like they’re a burden,” said member Karen Schneiderman. “Under those conditions, how can a choice to commit suicide be considered a free choice?”
Schneiderman said that “I don’t believe that Massachusetts voters want to pass a law that discriminates against old, ill and disabled people by singling them out for assisted suicide, while young, healthy people get suicide prevention services.”
Kelly stresses that the proposed law lacks safeguards to protect elders and other vulnerable populations from abuse. “An heir can help make the request, sign as a witness and pick up the prescription. Once the lethal drugs are in the home, no one will know if they are taken voluntarily. If the person changed their mind, if they struggled, who would know?”
Kelly emphasized that, under current law, people have the right to refuse or stop medical treatment, including food and water. People also have the right to adequate pain relief, even to the point of sedation.
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1 thought on “RELEASE: Massachusetts Disability Rights Activists to Testify Against Assisted Suicide Initiative”

  1. Living in Massachusetts, I could not agree more. Caring for a 26 year old totally disabled kid, I could not agree more. Unfortunately, the MA media is pandering to the “dignity” people with more emphasis than the opposition groups, like disability members and the Massachusetts Medical Society. I am not sure when people will realized that “death with dignity” is quite undignified?

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