On December 8th, Second Thoughts, a disability rights group, announced opposition to a 2012 assisted suicide ballot initiative in Massachusetts. The group is formed of members from independent centers for living throughout Massachusetts. Second Thoughts will join a diverse opposition to assisted suicide that includes the Massachusetts Medical Society who voted overwhelming to sustain opposition in a vote last week.
The group is led by disability activist John Kelly who spoke at a press conference announcing the formation of Second Thoughts. “Some people may ask why disabled people are speaking out about problems with a proposal that’s supposed to be about terminal illness,” said Kelly, “but when you look at the reasons Oregon reports for giving lethal prescriptions, it’s mainly about the social and emotional issues of becoming disabled, like depending on others and feeling like a burden.”
Full article available here http://alexschadenberg.blogspot.com/2011/12/disability-rights-group-announces.html