Citation

Longmore PK. J. Disability Policy Studies 2005; 16(1): 38-45.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Hammill Institute on Disabilities, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/10442073050160010601

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The petitions of two quadriplegic ventilator users for doctoral-assisted suicide and the responses to them illustrate the issues that frequently appear in such cases and, therefore, the dangers of legalizing that practice. The courts, the media, and other observers failed to recognize or ignored the discriminatory elements of public policy, health-care delivery, and social services that make the lives of some people with disabilities unendurable; in particular, by denying adequate funding for independent living, by failing to offer appropriate psychological evaluation and intervention, and by disregarding the perspectives of disability rights movement leaders in these cases and on these issues.

Language: en