Reflections on the debate on disability and aid in dying
Abstract
Background
A policy resolution supporting physician aid in dying was proposed to the American Public Health Association (APHA) in 2007 that prompted a debate with the Disability Section on its meaning for people with disabilities.
Objective
The present paper reflects on the issues revealed and lessons learned.
Methods
The debate included subcommittee discussion; review of research, polls, administrative reports; discussion with disability rights organizations; and floor-debate and vote by the APHA Governing Council.
Results
Reflections on the process are summarized under the themes: we all have our own views; it's highly personal; confusion among key concepts; I might want it for myself; it's about control and not about pain; the slippery slope and other arguments; and undue burden on people with disabilities.
Conclusions
The APHA resolution supporting aid in dying was passed in 2008 with some improvements in the language and a recommendation to measure pre-existing disability. Valuable lessons were learned through the debate process.
Oregon Institute on Disability and Development, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA
Corresponding author: 1600 Clifton Road NE, MS E88, Atlanta, GA 30333. Fax: (404) 498-6743.
Financial disclosure: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare. The contents of this article were developed while the author was employed by Oregon Health & Science University. She is now employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, the contents do not represent the policy of OHSU or of CDC, and the reader should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
ABSTRACT