Physician Assisted Suicide: A Disability Perspective

From the American Association of Health and Disability (1/13/10):

A Disability Perspective on the Issue of Physician Assisted Suicide

The entire January, 2010 issue of the Disability and Health Journal is available at no cost on line at www.disabilityandhealthjnl.com. Usually, only the abstracts are available to non-members of AAHD, however, this special issue is available to the general public.  This special issue is focused on Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Perspective from Advocates for People with Disabilities.  Although public opinion in the United States on physician-assisted suicide is evenly divided, about half of states have either defeated bills to legalize assisted suicide or have passed laws explicit ly banning it and only two states, (Oregon and Washington) have legalized it.  In this environment, A Disability Perspective on the Issue of Physician-Assisted Suicide, a special issue of Disability and Health Journal: The Official Journal of the American Association on Health and Disability, published by Elsevier, examines the issues related to assisted suicide and disability, the legal considerations and the Oregon and Washington experiences.

Articles include:

Assisted suicide: Why this is an important issue for the Disability and Health Journal
Suzanne McDermott

Killing us softly: the dangers of legalizing assisted suicide, 05 November 2009
Marilyn Golden, Tyler Zoanni

Assisted suicide laws create discriminatory double standard for who gets suicide prevention and who gets suicide assistance: Not Dead Yet Responds to Autonomy, Inc.
Diane Coleman

Public health, populations, and lethal ingestion
Kirk C. Allison

No, we don't think our doctors are out to get us: Responding to the straw man distortions of disability rights arguments against assisted suicide

Carol J. Gill

Comment Below: Where do you stand on this issue?  Do you think that the right to death is just as important as the right to life, a cornerstone of self-determination?  Do you think that assisted suicide is morally repugnant and socially dangerous, a treacherous scam that takes advantage of the most vulnerable?  Or do you see this issue with more subtle shades of right and wrong?

Comments

[Linda in Los Angeles]

As a person who embraces Christian beliefs, I believe suicide, helped or no, is a sin. But I would like to tell a brief story to make those comfy with their doctors a bit more alert and watchful ref treatment: my father lived his last years in Arizona. Jan 1999 he remarked to me that he had suddenly lost (25%) of his weight and was in pain on his right side (I knew what that meant: why didn't his doc???). I asked what the doc was doing. He said the doc checked for cancer, found none, and so began my dad's med oddessy via presc note pad over the next few months. The last couple of prescs were for meds such as Paxil, because the (geriatric) doc believed my dad to be a depressed hypochrondriac. It wasn't until the last doc visit when my dad tried to rise from a chair in the med office and fell, that the true nature of his illness was found during a hip replmt operation: he had cancer in all his long bones (why the hip broke)and throughout a lot of the soft tissue. I blame that doc for inadequate care that ended my dad's life sooner than it should have. (Have even gone so far as to think perhaps this doc knew dad had cancer but withheld treatment for same to speed the eventual by non-treatment) The cancer apparently came from wearing a painters hat in the middle of the previous summer fixing the roof of their house (120-125 deg heat). The chemicals leeched into his brain and spread from there. My dad died just before Thanksgiving of that year. My mom kept the same doc because she felt he saved her life in early 97 when she was operated on for lung cancer (they were both lifelong chain smokers). She had undiagnosed dementia, which that same doc seemed to not have a clue about until my brother had him test her.
I can't stress enough the importance for a person to be well informed regarding their health and care that is available. Be informed, ask questions and expect answers. After all, there are other ways to kill people besides assisted suicide ...

[Sylvia Caras]

I want an easy death without medical interventions. I would like there to be available methods for me outside of starvation and plastic bags. Until there are options, I would certainly want my physician or hospice to help.

I see no virtue in more suffering.

Outlawing help deprives me of choice.

My life, my choice, my death

Sylvia Caras
People Who

[Barbara Lee]

Yes, Sylvia, I agree with all of the above. In addition, I divorce assisted dying from suicide. If one is already looking death in the eye, on a wait list so to speak, how cruel to force us to endure, to ask our caretakers and loved ones to watch the process. I envision the decison being made after consulting with each of 3 faculties: intellectual, emotional & physical. I expect the most important component to be spiritual. I believe my Father in heaven gave me the discernment to know if I am in violation of His will for me.
We must also separate this act from that of abortion. A pwd has lived a good life: a cherished life filled with the agape love we have been taught to value. No one is making the choice to "kill" us before we have had a chance to experience the air we breathe. In our search for God and how to honor the "life" He has given us, we cannot ignore the importance of the dignity of the human soul. I am truly relieved to learn there are now 3 states which will enable my right to decide, one closer to the East Coast.

[Elisabeth Ellenbogen]

PEOPLE have the right to choose highly complex medical treatment. Of course funding streams need to be available! At present insurance limitation, poverty, lack of solvency play a major role in medical decisions at the end of life. Add the fact doctors may be under pressure to "fit" treatment into an insurance mold. There is an innate danger the patient's best interest may not be the first thought when a doctor makes recommendation.

This differs greatly from a public law that allows one person (albeit medical) to kill another. The powers of the State should NEVER extend to take human life!

[Al]

Well, as a disabled person, and having had two freinds check out without asking anyone, I personally dont like the thought of patient assisted suicide, but we stopped one freind from taking a bottle of oxy's only to have her die a horrible death in the following months.

The other two both gave up because their life style deteriorated so much they couldn't stand the shame. They just stopped the life they had because it was lousy.

What we really need is some input into these peoples lives. They need counseling and participation from the time they are laid low. Maybe the worst thing is the deppression. But they need to get it straightened out. They need to talk; and communicate; and sing; and shout; and have some fun - and they need someone to really care.

[Sharon Head]

I was in favor before I became disabled, and am in favor now.

[Darrin Ray]

Three years ago I was hit by a Drunk Driver and in 2008 I lost my right leg. As a disabled father, husband, and Christian I am appalled at even the concept of assisted suicide. With so-called "advocates" that promote that you don't need enemies, and Hitler . Life is such a beautiful and precious gift- even if it doesn't look that way sometimes. My ability to do or not do something does not determine my value in the sight of God and it shouldn't for anyone else and it doesn't for myself. If God values my life then I should too. No one ever said life was easy, no one ever said that there would be no pain or suffering- but even in the midst of pain and suffering one thing I have always had JOY because of Christ. My circumstances do not determine my worth or my ability to enjoy life even if it might seem limited to someone else...ah, heck I always have something to live for- and I'm not about to give up now! DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU YOU ARE WORTHLESS OR A BURDEN! The Bible tells us we should carry each other's burdens- the shoe could be on the other foot (no pun intended). Find a way to encourage someone else from your unique position there are very few people who can relate to the world the way you do from your position- and you will be amazed at how much more empowered and better you will feel yourself! Life isn't for cowards or quitters- hang in there and find a reason for living- if you don't have one then keep looking till you do!

Excelsior,
Darrin

[Dee Wheat]

Having personally watched people who died easily and with dignity because teir doctor had the courage to allow them enough medication to control their pain despite the knowledge that it might stop their respiratory effort as well as many more who died a long, screaming, agonized death beause THEIR doctor didn't, you bet I am in favor. I would not presume to say that it is right for everyone. It isn't. This is not, nor should it be, a one size fits all issue. However, I do fully believe that it should be an option for someone who wishes it because their quality of life, for whatever reason, has deteriorated to the point that they, and they alone, feel that it is not (nor will it ever again be under any circumstances), worth the effort that it takes to maintain it.

It should not be something that is undertaken lightly.It should be, however, available to those who make a conscious, informed decision regarding their life.

[Chadd]

Most of the people are in favor with that situation. I think I am too.
Chadd@Sell Life Insurance

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The current waves of global public debate have been ongoing for decades, centering on legal, religious, and moral conceptions of "suicide" and a personal "right to death".I do not know what to say, I so confused but I think that if someone ask me about the Assisted suicide I will answer that I am agree!!22dd