I REALLY appreciated Jeff Jacoby’s column, “What about do no harm?” (Op-ed, Oct. 17). As he points out, the fundamental premise behind the Massachusetts “Death with Dignity” ballot measure is “that certain lives aren’t worth living.” This premise is what makes the ballot measure disability-discriminatory.
The ballot question’s discriminatory premise is why it is so infuriating to many in disability-rights circles. This bill is only granting “physician-assisted suicide” to one class of people: those who are considered “ill.” It would be one thing to legalize assisted-suicide for all consenting adults, but we are singling out one group of people who are already devalued by society. If we as a society value the right to die then allow it for everyone, not just the old, ill, and disabled.
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Great letter! Leading national disability rights organizations and lots of local disability groups oppose this bill, lots more information at www.second-thoughts.org
If, as the author appears to believe, supporters of this bill were seeking to encourage suicide, then it would genuinely be odd that only people who are very likely to die soon are covered. Of course, the author is utterly wrong in her apparent belief about a position that she opposes but does not understand. In fact, this sounds like deliberate misunderstanding used to advance a specious argument.