Much has been written about how legal assisted suicide and euthanasia (two sides of the same coin under our current US laws) dangerously affect the doctor-patient relationship. The article below, written for True Dignity by disability rights activist W. Carol Cleigh, explores the way legal assisted suicide dangerously affects law enforcement. Read this account of the Jack … [Read more...] about Accepting Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia Dangerously Creates a “Special Class” of Homicide, Almost Never Investigated
Disability Rights Groups' Opposition
To Be Honest, Compassion and Choices Should Remove “Choices” from Its Name
There was good news in Canada this week. A court ruled that a woman with dementia’s acceptance of spoon feeding in a nursing home indicates a current desire for nourishment that overrides her advance directive's statement that such feeding not be provided. This is a victory for the right to change one’s mind, even if disabled. Compassion and Choices, the leading national … [Read more...] about To Be Honest, Compassion and Choices Should Remove “Choices” from Its Name
Our Tax Dollars at Work: Prettifying Suicide and Ignoring the Vulnerable
The Vermont Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard testimony on Wednesday on Act 39. The two questions being examined: “Is Act 39 working?” and “Should the sunset provisions in Act 39 be repealed?” Testimony was heard from a dozen people, nearly all of whom acknowledged that there are problems with the law, including the lack of documentation required, and the scarcity of … [Read more...] about Our Tax Dollars at Work: Prettifying Suicide and Ignoring the Vulnerable
Privilege vs. Disability in the Assisted Suicide Debate
Several years ago, Patient Choices, the group that, with lots of money from Compassion and Choices and the support of Governor Peter Shumlin, later succeeded in getting assisted suicide made legal in Vermont, brought George Eighmey, veteran C&C activist and "support volunteer" at the bedsides of people committing assisted suicide, , to speak in Manchester, Vermont. Many of … [Read more...] about Privilege vs. Disability in the Assisted Suicide Debate
Assisted Suicide is Not a Private Act. It is a Social Danger
As the UK Parliament continues to debate legalizing assisted suicide, here's a good article reminding us of what it seems should be obvious to everyone. Assisted suicide is not a private matter. It affects a whole society in ways that should, but no longer do, appall everyone. Suicide itself is known to be contagious. When the social stigma surrounding it is eliminated by … [Read more...] about Assisted Suicide is Not a Private Act. It is a Social Danger