By now, readers of this blog are probably getting familiar with the name and the writing of Clair Lewis. Today is another chance to read what she has to say about the recent developments in the UK.
Writing in The Independent, Clair says “Disabled people need assistance to live, not die. “
Here’s the first part of her essay:
There is a saying among disabled people that goes: “If it hurts, we know we’re alive”. Like most humans our natural instinct is not merely to survive but to flourish. For this we need assistance to live, not die. Disabled people suffer so much neglect, isolation, exclusion and discrimination that some volunteer for euthanasia. But this is not the only way to address suffering. What about assistance to live?When healthy people are suicidal, the usual response is to try to help them live better lives, not provide a solution which encourages them to die. It seems that disabled people are the only people who can be suicidal and mentally competent at the same time. Help offered to people with suicidal feelings is often inadequate. But however strapped for cash the NHS is, the one thing they won’t do is offer to finish the job off properly.This is why people like me are so concerned about the Director of Public Prosecution’s new guidelines on assisted suicide. On the surface, they look like an attempt to equalise the legislation – they move the focus on to the motivations of the assistant, widen up who may assist in a suicide and pay particular attention to whether an assistant’s actions were “compassionate”. But what is the definition of compassion?
Read the rest here. And consider leaving a comment on the site so the paper know the essay was read and appreciated. –Stephen Drake
Thanks. I will leave a comment, and an apology for not spelling Clair correctly in an earlier comment.
The point is so well made, and your title is good. This week, I had several comments with someone allegedly pro-“assisted…”(murder – I will call it that) on DailyKos, who said he, I suppose it’s a he, wanted to argue about it. (After the Keith Olberman 13 min. video, of which I watched some,not all re his dad’s health and the health care “reform”.) I pointed out he/she should read NDY and Better Off Alive, where Clair Lewis is. I would only point out that it is important for folks to hear from/know our, the disabled people’s point of view. I would not argue, as the person said he/she was not convinced by websites. I suggested he/she post comments here, that S. Drake would love arguments. I went for 3 rounds of comments or so, pointing out that I didn’t want to change the person’s mind, but because I think others would read comments also. That’s the best reason for me to reply to some comments that are negative or uninformed.
“Countdown to 7 0” on my art work process from Jan. 4, 2010 to
Feb. 23, 2010 is completed. 31 emails to myself. On reading it, when complete, I was surprised to find the interweaving of my life/severely disability ME/CFS woven in – so prominently. My point here is that we adapt, we cope and my life is as it is.
In my earlier comment,on NDY, I gave two examples of artists, colleagues doing well when they received good care, not offers of “let me help you kill yourself, even if you could live better…”
I am some better physically than some years ago. This completed art project and emails to myself for the “Countdown to 7 0” were not possible until now,for a couple of decades. My health improved some, so it’s great I’m still alive. And online for 2 year, limitedly. And I have a spouse caregiver, which is a major point.
My 7 0 birthday is somewhere between 2/28 and 3/1 because there’s no Leap Year Day this year. Sanda Aronson
As the author says, this is not so much like a social policy as a horror movie. In fact, I think it WAS a horror movie. Wait a minute, it IS a horror movie and I’M IN IT! STOP THE CAMERAS !!!