Erick Leipolt:

"Personally, do not see the possibility of 'strict', or 'robust' 'safeguards' stopping moves towards ever-widening criteria and motivations to end lives, in particular those who are seen as 'suffering'..."

Rachel Williams: The assumption is that no regulation of euthanasia is safer than regulation. It seems the opposite in practice. There is also no evidence of a slippery slope occurring in jurisdictions that have practiced euthanasia openly for decades.

Jenny Morris:

"I'm glad to see that someone is researching (has researched?) disabled
people's perspectives on end of life issues. My experience of the views of
people close to me who were approaching the end of their lives has meant
that I'm uncomfortable with the way debates on this issue have sometimes
been presented... Jenny"

Rachel Williams: Last I read, most self-identified disabled people support a limited form of euthanasia - reflecting the sentiments of the general population.

No one said it would be a comfortable discussion.

Margo Milne: "The area is indeed well rehearsed, particularly from the ANTI- side of things,"

Rachel Williams: The opposite I would argue.

Margo Milne: "This is extremely well rehearsed territory but, just for the record, don't
we need to ask why people 'request' such an 'intervention'? There is a
slippery slope and relatives, some internally oppressed peers, too many
health/care "professionals", lobbyists for the "useless eaters" brigade ,
etc, are all too keen to push one down it! "

Rachel Williams: For the record, there's plenty of data on "why people request intervention". The issue continues to be addressed in the research on euthanasia.

I'm unclear what your second statement is conveying.

Colin Barnes:

"Vote NO on assisted suicide poll"

Rachel Williams: I always appreciate Colin's thought-provoking opinions on the topic.

Christopher Riddle: "I don't know who the 'we' is you are referring to but that most certainly does not include me.This is not only because I disagree with what you are saying about the issue at stake,

but I am also offended at how you've gone about saying it.This issue came up the last time such a poll was being conducted, but I will reiterate my concern here again: I don't

appreciate being shouted at and directed what to think. This is especially true when no reasons have been put forth to suggest why I ought to think it. Perhaps it is this lack of

critical engagement and dogmatism that has resulted in the fact that "[you] are way behind". "

Rachel Williams: My sentiments as well.

Margo Milne:

"For information: medical aid in dying (ie physician-assisted suicide) is not
the same as euthanasia, as this newsletter states. The term euthanasia is
generally taken to mean the involuntary or non-voluntary taking of life,
where the person has not explicitly requested aid in dying. Best wishes,Margo"



Rachel Williams: In discussions in the media, euthanasia is often  equated with "involuntary euthanasia" (Few outside of academia employ the term non-voluntary euthanasia).

In policy and academic contexts, there are different terms used.

Physician
 assisted suicide, passive euthanasia (withdrawing or withholding treatment) and active euthanasia (voluntary, non-voluntary or involuntary euthanasia) are all forms of euthanasia.

From: erik leipoldt <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, 30 March 2012, 5:45
Subject: Re: EPC - March 28, 2012 - Update

See also http://www.amazon.com/Euthanasia-Disability-Perspective-Erik-Leipoldt/dp/3639247159 on perspectives of Dutch and Australian people wiith disabilities (mostly with quadriplegia) the end-of-life issue of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. This is largely my 2003 PhD thesis. The price put on this work is outrageous but unfortunately I was not able to do anything about that.

It will be good to see further work in this area. Personally, do not see the possibility of 'strict', or 'robust' 'safeguards' stopping moves towards ever-widening criteria and motivations to end lives, in particular those who are seen as 'suffering', unproductive and a social burden, and particularly so within our market-economic dominated global culture. See http://proliving.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/disability-position-statement-on.html

Cheers

Erik Leipoldt PhD
----- Original Message ----- From: "jennymorris" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 5:15 PM
Subject: Re: EPC - March 28, 2012 - Update

> I'm glad to see that someone is researching (has researched?) disabled
> people's perspectives on end of life issues. My experience of the views of
> people close to me who were approaching the end of their lives has meant
> that I'm uncomfortable with the way debates on this issue have sometimes
> been presented. But it's such a controversial issue, raising a lot of fears
> - for very good reasons - and I've been reluctant to enter into the debate.
> So I'm glad you're doing this research Margo and I'd be really interested in
> seeing the final results.
> Jenny
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Margo Milne
> Sent: 30 March 2012 07:52
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: EPC - March 28, 2012 - Update
>
> The area is indeed well rehearsed, particularly from the anti- side of
> things, but there is a tendency to make statements on behalf of all disabled
> people. "Disabled people think that..." etc. That was one reason I decided
> to research disabled people's views of end of life issues at PhD level. I
> found in many cases, particularly with progressive illness, that people just
> felt their position had or could become insupportable, often because they
> were experiencing intractable pain.
>
> Of course any legalisation of assisted suicide for the terminally ill would
> need to have extremely robust safeguards, to make sure that people were
> asking for it of their own volition. But the slippery slope is not
> inevitable!
>
> Best wishes
>
> Margo Milne
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Higgins [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 29 March 2012 10:45
> To: 'Margo Milne'; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: RE: EPC - March 28, 2012 - Update
>
> This is extremely well rehearsed territory but, just for the record, don't
> we need to ask why people 'request' such an 'intervention'? There is a
> slippery slope and relatives, some internally oppressed peers, too many
> health/care "professionals", lobbyists for the "useless eaters" brigade ,
> etc, are all too keen to push one down it! See:
> Disabled People's International - The Right To Live and Be Different
> URL: http://v1.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/details.php?page=895
>
> Crippen's Blog - Crippen looks at history in respect of the Assisted Suicide
> debate.
> URL:
> http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/?location_id=6&offset=0&item=537&item
> offset=1
>
> Russ Cooper Dowda in Ragged Edge Magazine - When I Woke Up
> http://www.ragged-edge-mag.com/extra/wokeup.html .
>
> Accessibility NZ - Opposing the Legalisation of Physician Assisted Suicide:
> URL:
> http://accessibility.net.nz/blog/opposing-the-legalisation-of-physician-assi
> sted-suicide/ .
>
> The UK Telegraph - 'Kay Gilderdale should have been investigated'
> In cases of assisted dying, anyone involved should have to account for their
> actions, says Phil Friend
> URL:
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2010/feb/04/assisted-dying-radar
> .
>
> Nabil Shaban's many films - try this one "The First To Go", or check out
> some of his others:
> http://www.youtube.com/profile?gl=GB&user=ScabsNabs#p/u/18/4ezwZmf5I_0
>
> The Independent's Dominic Lawson - "Who are we to decide that a dependant
> life is a pointless life?"
> http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic-law
> son-who-are-we-to-decide-that-a-dependent-life-is-a-pointless-life-1878817.h
> tml
>
> And an excellent piece here by UK DAN and Not Dead Yet activist, Dennis
> Queen
> http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/clair-lewis-disabled-peopl
> e-need-assistance-to-live-not-die-1911313.html .
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Mike Higgins,
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Address: 1 Portland Court, Sheffield, S6 3EW, UK.
> Tel (voice and, by prior arrangement, fax): +44 (0) 114 2258676
> Mobile: +44 (0) 7956 856060
>
>
>
>
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