Disability Justice Lens on Assisted Euthanasia

Hey folks, I have seen a couple posts on here about assisted euthanasia and I didn't get there in time to comment and share the information I thought was important to include beyond personal opinion. While personal narratives and feelings are important, and valid lenses to work through, it is also important to actively center disabled voices across wide range of experiences. Here is am going to include voices that center the experiences of long term disabled people who are often left out of these conversations and the wisdom they bring about the role of ableism and other parts of intersectional identity in shaping the narratives we all hold related to disability.

Not Dead Yet: https://notdeadyet.org/assisted-suicide-talking-points/

This group is by and for disabled people to talk about the social factors that impact narratives around assisted suicide or euthanasia, and how one of the challenges we face due to how rampant narratives of ableism are in most cultures that its hard to divorce those narratives of oppression against disabled people from some of the drivers leading one to want to end their own life.

Unspeakable Conversations by Harriet McBryde: https://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/16/magazine/unspeakable-conversations.html

Harriet McBryde, talks about her experience of debating with Peter Singer about his logic behind being pro-euthanasia of disabled people and the unsettling experience of someone who is such a strong advocate for animal rights not extending that same compassion towards disabled people.

Disability and Assisted Suicide: Elucidating Some Key Concerns by Professor Tim Stainton: https://ciic.ok.ubc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/212/2025/06/disability-and-assisted-suicide-elucidating-some-key-concerns-prof-tim-stainton-1.pdf

This more academic article written by Staiton, a member of the disability rights community, consolidates together nicely the fears and concerns disabled people have about assisted euthenasia as it becomes more more common.

Disability Visibility: https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/

This has less to do with specific assisted suicide, however, I think it is important to read the stories of disabled people (this includes mental health related concerns as these are disabilities even if for some they are a temporary disability) to challenge the narratives we have about disability being about suffering.

Finally, if you have not checked out Disability Day of Mourning where the disability community comes together in a vigil to hold space for people who are killed each year by their caregivers, I strongly suggest you do ( https://disability-memorial.org/ ). I think we underestimate the amount of psych force placed on disabled people as well as physical force to view their lives as being less worthy.

My goal here isn't to convince folks one way or another, I don't expect one person on the internet to do that. I more want to make sure the voices of disabled people are being centered as well as encourage folks to reflect on their own relationship to disability and how it informs your opinion. I know personally this is an area I continue to struggle with and hold on-going conversations with peers, clients, and in my own self-reflective work.