Assisted dying: what's disability got to do with it?

doi:10.1136/bmj.b3446

Published 26 August 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b3446
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b3446

Observations

On the Contrary

Assisted dying: what’s disability got to do with it?

Tony Delamothe, deputy editor, BMJ

tdelamothe@bmj.com

The debate on assisted dying has been hijacked by disabled peoplewho want to live. It needs to be reclaimed for terminally illpeople who want to die

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Assisted dying, assisted suicide, assisted killing: call itwhat you will, I’m in favour of it as an option for terminallyill adults of sound mind who want to die. Nevertheless, I tryhard to keep up with the arguments against it. I think I understandthem all, with the exception of those emanating from variousdisability lobby groups.

I first noticed their participation in the campaign againstLord Joffe’s bill on assisted dying for the terminallyill in 2006. Making common cause with them was the Archbishopof Canterbury, who led the opposition to the bill in the Houseof Lords. He divined in the bill a message that "certain kindsof life are not worth living" (BMJ 2006:332;1169, doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7551.1169).

This year Lord Falconer attempted to introduce an amendmentto the Coroners and Justice Bill that would have removed thethreat of prosecution from those who . . . [Full text of this article]

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This article has been cited by other articles:

Seale, C. (2009). Doctors' attitudes surveyed. BMJ 339: b3761-b3761 [Full text]
Finlay, I. G (2009). A baroness replies. BMJ 339: b3762-b3762 [Full text]

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Why disabled people oppose assisted suicide: Dr Peter J Saunders
bmj.com, 27 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Assisted Dying: disability has everything to do with it: Alison Davis
bmj.com, 27 Aug 2009 [Full text]
What's disability got to do with it?: Ann E FArmer
bmj.com, 28 Aug 2009 [Full text]
A Reasoned Observation?: David Jeffrey
bmj.com, 28 Aug 2009 [Full text]
The vulnerable are being used: Simon Kenwright
bmj.com, 28 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Personal choice for whom: Joan McClusky
bmj.com, 28 Aug 2009 [Full text]
BMJ 2009;339:b3422: Ronald NC Douglas
bmj.com, 29 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Assisted suicide isn't just an issue for young or mid-life disabled people: David Oliver
bmj.com, 29 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Hijacking informed choice on assisted dying: Claud Regnard
bmj.com, 29 Aug 2009 [Full text]
The Vulnerable: Christine M Hudson
bmj.com, 30 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Right of reply: Ilora G Finlay
bmj.com, 31 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Safeguards put in place will be broken.: Szamme M. Jamieson
bmj.com, 31 Aug 2009 [Full text]
Overuled by the courts.: Suzanne M. Jamieson.
bmj.com, 1 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Euthanasia and assisted suicide: Eugene G Breen
bmj.com, 1 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Not just the content, also the tone: Paul W Keeley
bmj.com, 1 Sep 2009 [Full text]
In Praise of Disabled People: Hugh Mann
bmj.com, 3 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Another Baroness on the Bus: Elaine Murphy
bmj.com, 1 Sep 2009 [Full text]
This Was Your Life: Martin Kelly
bmj.com, 2 Sep 2009 [Full text]
In praise of irreverent tone: Richard Smith
bmj.com, 2 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Medical rationing lead to euthanasia and the holocaust 70 years ago: James DM Douglas
bmj.com, 2 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Re: In praise of irreverent tone: Paul W Keeley
bmj.com, 2 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Re: Why disabled people oppose assisted suicide: Michael P G Harper
bmj.com, 3 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Where are the disabled supporters?: Joan McClusky
bmj.com, 3 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Why Should the BMA Ballot Its Members?: Jay Ilangaratne
bmj.com, 4 Sep 2009 [Full text]
What does disability have to do with it?: Debbie A Purdy
bmj.com, 7 Sep 2009 [Full text]
The Assisted Dying Debate has been hijacked: Mary Knowles
bmj.com, 7 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Assisted dying: Nick Moore
bmj.com, 7 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Re: Assisted dying: Isky Gordon
bmj.com, 7 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Not a disability issue, but who does speak?: Michael G Peckitt
bmj.com, 7 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Equality for the disabled means the same choice as the rest of us: Elisabeth Liza Macdonald
bmj.com, 9 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Doctors' attitudes to assisted dying: Clive Seale
bmj.com, 9 Sep 2009 [Full text]
The Day Irony Was Given A Lethal Injection: Paul W Keeley
bmj.com, 9 Sep 2009 [Full text]
Let's have evidence-based law reform: Oliver B. Coles
bmj.com, 10 Sep 2009 [Full text]
A scheme for assisted dying: Michael Rosen
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