Disability, vulnerability and assisted death: commentary on Tuffrey-Wijne, Curfs, Finlay and Hollins

Abstract

This paper builds on the work of Tuffrey-Wijne et al. and explores the issue of vulnerability and persons with disabilities in relation to Euthnasia and Assisted Dying (EAS). The commentary draws on both the literature and on case examples from Canada. Specifically, it considers the issue of EAS as an alternative to, or substituted for, appropriate disability supports. Secondly, it considers the issue of the devaluation of disabled lives in general and within health care practice and ethics. It concludes that current safeguards are inadequate and that as EAS regimes become more permissive the risk to disabled persons will increase.

Structural ableism in public health and healthcare: a definition and conceptual framework

“…In Canada, assisted suicide laws and the ways they might coerce disabled people, especially in the absence of safeguards and input from disabled communities, have also been debated as a form of contemporary eugenics. 39 Lastly, many disabled people have been forced to live in congregate care settings due to historical and contemporary disinvestment in community-based services (resulting from institutionalization) where they were largely unprotected during the COVID-19 pandemic and died at high rates. 3…”

Análise da atividade metabólica cerebral em amputados traumáticos do membro inferior com dor do membro fantasma, através da Espectroscopia funcional do Infravermelho Próximo (fNIRS)

“…Como exemplos dessa gama de reações, temos casos relevantes de indivíduos sedentários, que encontram no esporte uma nova vida e com dedicação se tornam atletas após uma amputação 70,71 . Contrapondo, há outros casos de solicitações polêmicas de eutanásia em pessoa com deficiência por julgar a continuidade impossível sem a integralidade corporal, civis anunciando a perda do membro como resultado do combates em gueras, ao invés da diabetes 72,73 .…”