Disability groups claim California's assisted suicide law discriminates against them
NPRDisability groups claim California's assisted suicide law discriminates against them Enlarge this image toggle caption Fanatic Studio / Gary Waters via Getty Images Fanatic Studio / Gary Waters via Getty Images A group of people with disabilities is suing to upend California's assisted suicide law, saying the bias they faced trying to get health care during the pandemic shows the system is too quick to offer death as an appropriate outcome. The lawsuit, filed against state officials and agencies, argues that California's 7-year-old law that allows terminally ill people to choose to get lethal drugs to end their life — the End of Life Option Act — puts disabled people at greater risk of being coerced into seeking assisted suicide. People who work with California's assisted suicide law acknowledge that disabled people often struggle to get adequate medical care, but they say the state's end-of-life law is set up to avoid precisely that kind of discrimination. Dr. Lonny Shavelson, a proponent of assisted suicide laws, recently sued California on behalf of disabled people who want to use the law to end their lives but can't.
History of this topic
California's doctor-assisted deaths surged 63% to 853 last year: critics say state law is unconstitutional, has made it too easy to get lethal drugs, and 'steers' disabled people to suicide
Daily MailThe ACT's proposed voluntary assisted dying laws have yet to be introduced, but could be the most liberal in the country
ABC
Vermont allows out-of-staters to use assisted suicide law
Associated Press
Conn. woman 1st non-Vermonter granted assisted suicide right
Associated Press
Vermont advances nonresident medically assisted suicide bill
Associated Press
Woman sues over residency requirement for assisted suicide
Associated PressDiscover Related
)
)
)
