Quotations

Equal Rights: “We think equal rights should also mean equal rights to suicide prevention.” . . . Diane Coleman, president of the disability-rights group Not Dead Yet. ¹

Progressive Tradition: “Let us honor Connecticut’s progressive tradition against discrimination by ensuring equal access to non-coercive suicide prevention services for old, ill, and disabled people, rather than offering suicide assistance.” . . . Stephen Mendelsohn of Second Thoughts Connecticut. ²

Collateral Damage: “No matter how many safeguards go into the bill, we [people with disabilities] are going to be the collateral damage.” . . . Cathy Ludlum of Second Thoughts Connecticut. ³

Needing Help Is Not Undignified: "The belief that it is better to die than to depend on others for assistance is central to arguments in favor of so-called 'death with dignity.'" . . . disability-rights activist Samantha Crane. ⁴

Acceptable Losses: "Proponents of legalized assisted suicide are willing to treat lives ended through assisted suicide coercion and abuse as “acceptable losses” when balanced against their unwillingness to accept disability or responsibility for their own suicide.". . . disability-rights group Not Dead Yet. ⁵

Supreme Court of Canada 2015 Ruling: "The judgment creates the potential for the most permissive and least restrictive criteria for assisted suicide in the world, putting persons with disabilities at serious risk.". . . A statement from the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. ⁶

Government's Role: "If there is one role for the state, it is to protect the lives of citizens from other people. An argument in favour of assisted suicide undermines this critical responsibility.". . . Canadian lawyer André Schutten. ⁷

Disgusting Names: "Perhaps you will share my dismay that 'Schiavo+rutabaga' gives 1,820 hits on Google, while her name plus 'turnip' gives 12,500, her name plus 'broccoli' gives 76,400, her name plus 'lettuce' gives 93,100, her name plus 'cabbage' gives 135,000, her name plus 'potato' gives 201,000 and her name plus 'vegetable' gives 288,000 hits. Comparing disabled humans to vegetables is becoming acceptable, even popular.

"Perhaps you will understand why these disgusting names remind me that the Nazis called the mentally or physically disabled 'useless eaters' who were a 'drain on the Fatherland' – and then got rid of them. Of course, we will be less frank and claim to be acting out of 'compassion.' But we are looking for a solution to our Social Security and Medicare problem. Let us beware of making it the Final Solution." . . . Dr. David C. Stolinsky (Stolinsky.com).