The UN headquarters plaza in New York
This week UN human rights experts expressed alarm at a growing trend to enact legislation enabling access to medically assisted dying based largely on having a disability or disabling conditions, including in old age.
“We all accept that it could never be a well-reasoned decision for a person belonging to any other protected group – be it a racial minority, gender or sexual minorities – to end their lives because they experience suffering on account of their status,” the experts said. “Disability should never be a ground or justification to end someone’s life directly or indirectly.”
UN human rights experts alarmed by trend toward assisted dying for nonterminal conditions theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
UN Experts Alarmed by Trend Toward Assisted Dying for Non Terminal Conditions
OTTAWA United Nations human rights experts are alarmed by what they see as a growing trend to enact legislation allowing medical assistance in dying for people suffering from non-terminal, disabling conditions.
Three experts, including the UN’s special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, say such legislation tends to be based on “ableist” assumptions about the quality and worth of the life of a person with a disability.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the experts do not specifically mention Canada’s proposed legislation, which would expand assisted dying to people who are suffering intolerably but are not approaching the natural end of their lives.
Human rights advocates are concerned by ableist assumptions about quality of life for those with disabilities. Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
01/27/2021 10:51am EST
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OTTAWA United Nations (UN) human rights experts are alarmed by what they see as a growing trend to enact legislation allowing medical assistance in dying for people suffering from non-terminal, disabling conditions.
Three experts, including the UN’s special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, say such legislation tends to be based on “ableist” assumptions about the quality and worth of the life of a person with a disability.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the experts do not specifically mention Canada’s proposed legislation, which would expand assisted dying to people who are suffering intolerably but are not approaching the natural end of their lives.
Aide médicale à mourir: des experts de l ONU inquiets d un accès élargi quebec.huffingtonpost.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from quebec.huffingtonpost.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.