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HIGHLIGHT PIECE OF THE WEEK |
Assisted Suicide Stigmatizes Living With A Disability
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David French, political commentator and former attorney, writes, "Isolation brings death; community brings life. And we build community in part by recognizing that we are not in control and that each of us will one day desperately need someone else to love us, care for us and cherish us." |
In April, the New York State Assembly passed, by a close vote of 81-67, dangerous and discriminatory assisted suicide legislation. During the last week of session, on Monday, June 9th, the New York State Senate approved assisted suicide by a vote of 35-27. A slim majority over the necessary 32 votes for passage. The bill will now head to the desk of Governor Kathy Hochul, who needs to hear from YOU. Click the link below to tell the Governor to VETO this bill! |
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ICYMI: Colorado Assisted Suicide Law is Discriminatory |
Dawn Russell, organizer at Atlantis ADAPT, spoke to reporters at NPR in Colorado about the case to overturn the state's assisted suicide law. Dawn is an organizational plaintiff in the case and voiced her concern that people with disabilities will be coerced and abused into assisted suicide. |
| Palliative Care At Risk When Assisted Suicide Is Implemented |
Matthew Doré, Palliative Care Consultant, says, "Some may argue that offering “choice” is itself an act of bestowing worth. And this is true until a point, but it becomes obvious that ‘individual choice’ is born out of an ‘individual’s innate human worth’ and not the master of it. It is when someone feels broken, when they question their very existence, when they feel a burden, that what they seek most is not choice – it is acceptance." |
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Assisted Dying and the Importance of Hospice Care |
Claire Fox, member of the House of Lords, writes, "The best way to procure a ‘good death’, in my opinion, is through hospice care, whose expertise is precisely in offering unparalleled dignity to patients in their care, as they face the end of their lives. I think we should be putting all our energies and resources into improving funding and access to desperately needed palliative-care services and hospices, instead of enacting a law that normalises suicide and arguably puts the most vulnerable at risk."
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For the most recent update on assisted suicide laws in the states, click here or on the image of the states below. |
"End Assisted Suicide" is the group of plaintiffs suing the state of California to overturn the Assisted Suicide law there. Our 501(c)(3) sister organization, the Institute for Patients' Rights, has joined this ground-breaking lawsuit as a plaintiff. |
We’ve joined a federal lawsuit in Colorado with a coalition of national and Colorado-based disability and patient advocacy organizations - Atlantis ADAPT, United Spinal Association, Not Dead Yet, the Institute for Patients’ Rights, and Mary Gossman, a woman with anorexia.
The plaintiffs argue the Colorado assisted suicide law violates core protections under the U.S. Constitution and federal civil rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. |
If you’re in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time to connect with a trained crisis counselor. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the U.S., call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. |
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PRAF is a leading national, non-partisan single-issue organization that protects the rights of patients, people with disabilities, older adults, and other historically underrepresented groups from deadly harm and discrimination inherent in assisted suicide laws. |
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