Matt Fairchild died by assisted suicide after a 10 year battle with Stage 2 melanoma.
However, this story does not cite pain as the primary reason Matt Fairchild died by assisted suicide. His widow explains in a video that “hospice did their best… but he could not stand up on his own, he could not go to the bathroom on his own, he could not even sit up on his own.”
Taking nothing away from Mr. Fairchild’s suffering or his illness, these are all newfound disabilities. There are millions in this country who cannot stand up, go to the bathroom, or sit up on their own who deserve assisted suicide prevention care when they feel that those disabilities are too much to bear and ask for help in suicide.
For people with disabilities, it is vital to ensure that they have access to care, services, and supports. Assisted suicide laws are most often used by people with disability-related concerns, like feeling a burden on their family, loss of the ability to control bodily functions, and loss of mobility. Advocating for a public policy motivated by a fear of disability sends the message that disability is a fate worse than death
Once the Door is Opened to Euthanasia, the Slope will Slip Recently, Dr. Mark S. Komrad provided comments on the sickening story of a Belgian criminal euthanized at the end of February, 2023. His words provide exceptional insight into the ever slippery slope of assisted suicide. Read his insight below: This story I find
Mental Illness is not a Terminal Diagnosis Canada announced a delay in the implementation of assisted suicide for people with mental health disabilities. Since this delay, many proponents of and advocates against these laws have spoken up about this decision. Mr. Ashley Geddes wrote an article in the Alberta Times covering some of the reactions
Life With Dignity In our pandemic strained, profit-driven health care system, intractable pain and the fear of unimaginable suffering is not one of the top five reasons surveyed that many of society’s most vulnerable feel driven towards assisted suicide; Loss of autonomy, dignity and the perceived fear of being a burden to family, friends and
