Thanks Mike.
Anne, I am sorry that you feel so angry at what I wrote. Had you followed the
strand you might have seen that I do not advocate compulsory "suicide" (if it
is compulsory, it isn't suicide), but genuine choice. Merely because I, and
quite a lot of others, would not want to live in a certain way does not, in any
sense, mean that I have disrespect for people that do want to live in that way,
whatever it may be. I am absolutely delighted that you have a good life, and
are economically successful. I most sincerely wish you continued success in the
future.
However, I am extremely upset, and somewhat angry, that you see fit to make ad
hominem attacks on me and my capacity to do what I do. This shows the worst
kind of intolerance of other ideas that I have come across for a while, given
that you actually know nothing about me. You do not know what my research is,
what my past history is, or anything that would allow you to make the comments
you did. You ask if I am disabled: let me rephrase your question thus: Do I
regard myself as disabled? No. Do I have what might be regarded as disabilities
by others? Yes. Now you owe me an answer to the question - what difference does
it make?
You seem to suggest that I should have no position in a university merely
because I would like the same choice about how to live or end my life if
something happened to reduce my physical ability as I do now. That is really
quite an extreme point of view, and does not help me to see things your way -
in fact it tends to make me discount your comments.
I am also distressed that you seem to class me along with Holocaust deniers
because I feel the too much emphasis is placed on the horrible situations in
the Germany of the 1930s and 40s. It is because it was such a disfunctional,
warped system that I do not think that it can be used as anything other than an
extreme example, and not one to be trotted out in a knee-jerk fashion every
time something related to end-of-life decisions are discussed. It seems to me
that it is a way of stopping discussion, not enabling it, and therefore should
be discouraged.
Let me reiterate, briefly, what I have already said - it is for the individual
to decide what dignity is for that person, and to decide what is, and what is
not, undignified treatment and behaviour. If someone wishes to live to the
bitter end, fighting all the way, that is to be protected to the fullest
extent. In fact, continued life is the default option. However, if the person
decides that life has begun to undermine their dignity to the extent that it is
no longer worth living, then that should be their right also, and if, for
whatever reason, they wish to be assisted in that, then the assistance should
be available. There must, of course, be safeguards, especially if competence is
an issue. Self-determination, something that is the right of every person,
whether disabled or not, must be respected and protected.
Yours,
Jeremy
--
Jeremy Wickins,
PhD Researcher,
School of Law,
University of Sheffield,
Bartolome House,
Sheffield. S3 7ND
UK.
Quoting Mike Higgins <[log in to unmask]>:
> I think this (below) is a response to something Colin Revell forwarded to
> DANMAIL from this list! As, so far as I know, Jeremy isn't on DANMAIL, I am
>
> sending Anne's response to the disability-research list so that Jeremy and
> others can see and if necessary respond to it. To minimise duplication can
> I suggest that any progression of this particular thread goes ahead via the
> disability-research list as DANMAIL already has its own discussion
> progressing along different lines. I have copied Anne into this message in
> case she is not a member of the disability-research list.
>
>
> Best wishes,
> Mike Higgins
> (DANMAIL Co-Moderator)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Anne Pridmore" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 1:03 PM
> Subject: [danmail] assisted dying
>
>
> Jeremy Wickins, PhD Researcher said
>
>
>
> "The disabled community is based on dignity and choice"
>
>
>
> This statement has made me so angry I just have to respond. Where on earth
> does Jeremy Wickins get this idea from? My life (which is considerably
> less controlled than many disabled people) is subject to so many controls by
> other people I do not know where to begin to "defend" my case. Is Jeremy a
> disabled person? What is more I feel extremely frightened that people like
> Jeremy based in a University School of Law are allowed to do research at
> all.
>
>
>
> Does Jeremy not know that disabled people have already been persuaded to die
> by others "in control". Many of us would be dead now if we had not known
> our rights and demanded them. Most of our days are spent doing this which
> is exhausting.
>
>
>
> He also states:
>
>
>
> "It is time that the "lessons" of a particularly dysfunctional political
> experiment
> two-thirds of a century ago were put into perspective, instead of distorting
> views long after the whole thing collapsed".
>
>
>
> These so called experiments are still being carried on in the UK today -
> Jeremy get real!
>
>
>
> He also states -
>
>
>
> "I do not EVER want to live in a way that leaves me dependent on others for
> long periods
> of time, whether that is due to physical incapacity"
>
>
>
> Jeremy if you met me you would see that in your definition I exactly fit
> this description. BUT I lead a full and contributing life. I employ 7
> people who all contribute via tax and insurance to society. I am a Director
> of two National Organisations. I consult with government on Social Care
> issues etc as many of us do. I have good friends a lover and a very best
> mate called Eben my assistance dog. Not one of these people see me as
> dependent.
>
>
>
> I am so very angry with your comments as a researcher just about to consult
> with a university on ethical issues I will view their advice in a positive
> way - however I know that these people have a better understanding than
> obviously you have.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Anne Pridmore - Psychologist
>
> Disability Consultant
>
>
>
> www.beingtheboss.co.uk
>
>
>
> "Empowerment is not about giving people power, it's about giving up power!"
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> ________________End of message________________
>
> This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for
> Disability Studies at the University of Leeds
> (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
> Enquiries about list administration should be sent to
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Archives and tools are located at:
> www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
> You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
>
________________End of message________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies).
Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.
|