tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67446871927047725942012-01-27T01:55:42.277-06:00Since 1983, many people with disabilities have opposed the assisted suicide and euthanasia movement. Though often described as compassionate, legalized medical killing is really about a deadly double standard for people with severe disabilities, including both conditions that are labeled terminal and those that are not. In the photo, members of Not Dead Yet from across the nation protest in Boston Masachusetts outside of the 2000 conference of the World Federation of Right to Die Societies.Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.comBlogger474125NotDeadYetNewsCommentaryhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-71905043211088790762012-01-23T12:39:00.000-06:002012-01-23T12:48:53.693-06:002012-01-23T12:48:53.693-06:00

Readers of this blog are familiar with the Final Exit Network (FEN), the assisted suicide vigilante cult that has gotten into legal trouble in two states over the roles members of FEN played in facilitating the suicides of a man in Georgia and a woman in Arizona. The common denominator in both cases is the (now ex) "medical director" of FEN, Lawrence Egbert.  The Washington Post profiled him in

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-22914591054007489182012-01-19T17:09:00.000-06:002012-01-19T17:09:43.982-06:002012-01-19T17:09:43.982-06:00

On January 7, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an op-ed by Wendell Stephenson, current president of the Final Exit Network (FEN).  "Ensuring death with dignity" is no longer freely available at the AJC site, but the same essay was published in December last year in the Metrowest Daily News and can still be read here. It's the usual conflation of terminal illness with chronic illness,

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-21048445103564807572012-01-14T12:21:00.000-06:002012-01-14T13:14:35.114-06:002012-01-14T13:14:35.114-06:00

Recently, Diane Coleman wrote about new proposals to increase the pool of donor organs, and that have particularly disturbing ramifications in terms of the care and treatment of newly disabled individuals.  We already know that organ transplant teams are more than willing to obtain organs from individuals with long-term disabilities, as highlighted by the case of Ruben Navarro.  Even though a

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-42485957023666765752012-01-06T11:47:00.000-06:002012-01-06T11:47:43.904-06:002012-01-06T11:47:43.904-06:00

Last week, the National Post reported on a recent poll of Canadians in which 67% of the poll respondents indicated their support for legalized assisted suicide for people who are "terminally ill."  NDY President Diane Coleman fired off a letter to the Post and it was published on Tuesday, January 6.  The link for the letters section is here.  Diane's letter is the first letter in the letter

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-32043795601022589802012-01-03T13:32:00.000-06:002012-01-05T12:44:18.385-06:002012-01-05T12:44:18.385-06:00

Less than two months ago, I was introduced to a new policy arena about which I still have much to learn:  the organ procurement and organ sharing system.  In the U.S., the federal Department of Health and Human Services contracts with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)/United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to manage the nation’s organ transplant system. Among other

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-8813861367133846632011-12-22T13:59:00.001-06:002011-12-22T13:59:41.478-06:002011-12-22T13:59:41.478-06:00

On December 9, we shared the press release of the newly-formed Second Thoughts disability group in Massachusetts.  The group formed to oppose the Massachusetts assisted suicide initiative, which is being promoted by what is more or less the local branch of Compassion & Choices (aka "conflation & con jobs"). Second Thoughts is led by disability activist John Kelly.  On December 13, he was

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-34271069479114907032011-12-19T17:40:00.000-06:002011-12-19T17:47:13.290-06:002011-12-19T17:47:13.290-06:00

My thanks to readers of this blog.  Several entered into the surprisingly short comment thread in Time Magazine's "Fond Farewell" to Jack Kevorkian, which I wrote about last week.  (Among other issues, the obituary referred to the people Kevorkian "helped" as 'dying.) Surprisingly, aside from one person who made the tired old "we're kinder to our pets than to humans" argument - an argument that

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-75336429268426151712011-12-15T12:47:00.000-06:002011-12-15T15:22:47.061-06:002011-12-15T15:22:47.061-06:00

I'm sure this won't be the last of these articles now that we're at the end of the year, but Time Magazine has printed an obituary for Jack Kevorkian in its "Fond Farewells" section in its "Person of the Year" issue.  The obit was originally written back in June of this year and was written by Howard Chua-Eoan, a News Director at Time Magazine. I think most people would expect a higher standard

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-42904075790704869462011-12-13T11:05:00.000-06:002011-12-13T11:05:06.376-06:002011-12-13T11:05:06.376-06:00

Rhonda Wiebe is on the NDY Board of Directors.  Yesterday, The B.C. Catholic published an essay by Rhonda titled "Are we better off dead than disabled?"  Here's the beginning of her excellent piece - a piece that aims to inform sympathetic but otherwise uninformed allies about the most critical barriers and threats facing disabled people: The perils of the social devaluation of people include

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-85287628381925576812011-12-09T13:18:00.001-06:002011-12-09T13:25:42.664-06:002011-12-09T13:25:42.664-06:00

RELEASE: Disability Rights Group Announces Opposition  to Massachusetts Assisted Suicide Initiative Boston, MA (PRWEB) December 09, 2011  On Thursday, December 8 at 12:30 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House, disability rights advocates, speaking as part of a new group they are calling Second Thoughts, publicly announced their opposition to a proposed assisted suicide 2012 ballot

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-77315715752853300672011-12-05T15:22:00.001-06:002011-12-05T15:51:02.537-06:002011-12-05T15:51:02.537-06:00

As readers of this blog know, there is currently a drive in Massachusetts to put legalization of assisted suicide on the ballot next fall.  Naturally, there has been a lot of concern regarding diversity in a coalition opposing the legalization of assisted suicide in that state.  One source of concern has been whether or not the Massachusetts Medical Society would maintain its stance in opposing

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-15573627487468687392011-11-29T10:32:00.001-06:002011-11-29T10:49:40.992-06:002011-11-29T10:49:40.992-06:00

Canadian assisted suicide proponents lost a bid to legalize assisted suicide through Parliament last year.  This year, they turned to the courts to challenge Canada’s laws against assisted suicide and euthanasia as unconstitutional.  The case is now before the Canadian court in Vancouver and the proceedings began November 14, 2011.  Plaintiffs include a woman with ALS. The

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-89300345618555516252011-11-22T13:07:00.001-06:002011-11-22T14:42:02.583-06:002011-11-22T14:42:02.583-06:00

Yesterday, someone forwarded me the latest mailing from Disability Rights International (DRI), this particular one came in the form of a message from the organization's president, Laurie Ahern.  The shortest explanation of the organization's mission can be found in its mission statement on the "about" page of their site: "Disability Rights International is dedicated to promoting the human rights

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-85402438170740537542011-11-21T13:12:00.001-06:002011-11-21T14:23:04.507-06:002011-11-21T14:23:04.507-06:00

As promised in last week's blog entry, I contacted responsible parties at both the Associated Press and DutchNews.nl about needed corrections in a Dutch group's advocacy for 'mobile' euthanasia teams that could provide that "service" to people in their own homes if their own doctors wouldn't cooperate with their wishes. The AP has a Statement of News Values and Principles, and it takes a strong

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-38368175739300042952011-11-17T10:59:00.001-06:002011-11-18T09:42:07.613-06:002011-11-18T09:42:07.613-06:00

It's hardly news when word comes out from the Netherlands that either the government, medical professionals or some private organization are seeking to expand the scope of the euthanasia laws.  After all, the consistent trend in the Netherlands has been to expand the practices of euthanasia and assisted suicide by expanding eligibility criteria, as we've written about here, here and here. It's

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-82755849436410445522011-11-08T05:58:00.001-06:002011-11-08T10:03:25.361-06:002011-11-08T10:03:25.361-06:00

The Georgia disability rights activists that attended yesterday's hearing on the Final Exit Network's (FEN) challenge to that state's assisted suicide law were included in some of the major media coverage.  First, from wbstv.com (channel 2) in Atlanta, there's a brief interview with disability activist Elizabeth Hune, alongside fellow activists Zan Thornton and Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle.  Here's the

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-49231877710799682262011-11-07T05:53:00.000-06:002011-11-07T07:32:49.089-06:002011-11-07T07:32:49.089-06:00

Today, Nov. 7, 2011, the Georgia Supreme Court will hear arguments on the challenge to Georgia's assisted suicide law filed by members of the Final Exit Network.  The group claims that the law does not actually prohibit assisted suicide but does violate the First Amendment right to free speech. Three disability rights groups from Georgia will be attending the hearing today, and handing out

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-47259970697407542552011-11-03T11:56:00.000-05:002011-11-03T11:59:45.036-05:002011-11-03T11:59:45.036-05:00

 Link: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8929655.htm Disability Rights Activists from Not Dead Yet and National Council on Disability Featured in Dr. Oz Segment on Assisted Suicide Members of Not Dead Yet and National Council on Disability were featured in a Dr. Oz segment on assisted suicide. Members expressed opposition to assisted suicide, but overall the segment was biased

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-7396859134841457502011-11-02T15:08:00.001-05:002011-11-02T15:32:36.380-05:002011-11-02T15:32:36.380-05:00

Yesterday - November 1 - the anticipated/dreaded Dr. Oz show on assisted suicide aired in most places, although syndicated shows such as Dr. Oz often play out on different dates in different locations. Disability activists Nadina LaSpina, Danny Robert, Ari Ne'eman, Julie Maury, Hope Derogatis and Bill Peace were all in the audience.  Danny Robert and Ari Ne'eman got to speak.  While Bill didn't,

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-6534044516748540052011-10-27T16:15:00.000-05:002011-10-27T16:15:26.413-05:002011-10-27T16:15:26.413-05:00

(This press release will be issued on the wires via prweb on Oct. 27, 2011) (Rochester, NY) Not Dead Yet, a national disability organization that opposes legalization of assisted suicide, applauds the documentary “Lives Worth Living” which begins airing October 27 on PBS. Produced and directed by Eric Neudel, “Lives Worth Living” combines rare historical footage with interviews of individuals

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-79263196474170808662011-10-26T12:26:00.000-05:002011-10-26T12:26:32.267-05:002011-10-26T12:26:32.267-05:00

(Editor's note - this should have been posted over a week ago.  The timelag between the writing of this post and the publishing on the blog is entirely my responsibility.  --SD) I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, so when the Kalamazoo Gazette’s October 1st edition featured three opinion pieces supporting assisted suicide, I had to respond. The authors were three senior high school students

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-59133530142639110692011-10-25T10:26:00.001-05:002011-10-25T10:46:01.823-05:002011-10-25T10:46:01.823-05:00

As we reported last week, several NDYers and other disability activists went to the taping of the "Dr. Oz" show on assisted suicide.  We were able to share the impressions of a disabled man who is part of the Final Exit Network (FEN) who came away feeling that the staff of the show was dishonest and disrespectful in dealing with him and discussing any accommodations to his disability.  Last

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-7279874898622197412011-10-20T16:04:00.000-05:002011-10-20T16:04:38.561-05:002011-10-20T16:04:38.561-05:00

 I hope to have some first-hand accounts up by Monday next week from NDYers and other disability activists who went to the taping of the Dr. Oz show on assisted suicide.  While extensive edits have to be done on the show to shorten it to fit available air time, all reports so far say that it was a circus, and at least one of the disability activists we know felt like nothing more than

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-63923960823470479662011-10-18T13:40:00.001-05:002011-10-18T16:24:37.495-05:002011-10-18T16:24:37.495-05:00

There's a major problem with shows hosted by medical professionals.  On the one hand, viewers are encouraged to believe that due to the professional credentials of the host, any discussion of a complicated topic treated on that show is going to meet some kind of high professional standard. The truth is, though, that such shows are meant for entertainment - and they better work as entertainment

Not Dead Yetnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6744687192704772594.post-41974816499041620502011-10-06T10:53:00.005-05:002011-10-06T11:43:31.966-05:002011-10-06T11:43:31.966-05:00

Monday, October 3, was opening day for the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court heard oral arguments in three consolidated cases: Douglas v. Independent Living Center of Southern California, Douglas v. California Pharmacists Assn. and Douglas v. Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. In these cases, Medicaid recipients and providers are suing the state of California to stop 10 percent across-the-board cuts in

Diane Colemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14623301501176987241noreply@blogger.com1