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Disability Activists Condemn Assisted Suicide as Distraction from important Issues
For Immediate Release:
February 3, 2006
Contact:
Joelle Brouner, 206-595-1542
Duane French, 360-486-2102(Olympia, WA) The Washington chapter of Not Dead Yet, a national disability rights group, spoke out today against the introduction of a bill that Would legalize assisted suicide in Washington State.
"Some will have you believe that. this bill is an effort to offer a pain management strategy of last resort, or a step to Support individual choice. Those frameworks are red herrings'', says Joelle Brouner, disability activist, who notes that "fear of being a burden" and "loss of autonomy" are two of the most common reasons given by people seeking legally assisted suicide in Oregon.
"The central issues are credibility, power (state, institutional, and individual), and class. I don't know how often a perfect stranger has said, `I don't know if I'd want to live if I were in a situation like yours.'
When I explain that I have a great life they appear perplexed. In a culture dominated by narrow understandings of "quality of life'' and "independence" disability is perceived to be worse than death."
Activist and organizer Duane French says "people forget that medicine is big business. People with chronic. require expensive care.
When a person's desire to live, and to pursue every treatment threatens the bottom line, too many already believe the cost outweighs the benefit.
The individual who is, sick tired, and vulnerable is already fighting an uphill battle. When you consider adding the power of state policy to the considerable power of doctors, you are creating an incentive for promoting death. It's a prescription for abuse, and injustice . "
Activists consider it particularly repugnant for the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee to consider hearing SB 6843. The same committee that is supposed to support the health and of people in long-term care is instead advocating a policy of abandonment.
Good public policy isn't based on fear or the worst case scenario, With all the very real problems confronting the poor, seniors Land people with disabilities in this country, it's unconscionable that we are wasting Limo and energy on this sideshow distraction.
NOT DEAD YET * 7521 Madison St * Forest Park, IL 60130 Voice/TTY: 708-209-1500 * Fax: 708-209-1735 * TTY: 708-209-1826 http://www.notdeadyet.org