Not Dead Yet and disability rights groups against assisted suicide are being blocked at public hearings.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Anita Cameron (center)

Not Dead Yet, and other disability rights groups have been a strong and effective voice against the legalization of assisted suicide. Recent public hearings on assisted suicide bills have been orchestrated to either reduce or eliminate the opportunity for disability rights groups from speaking against assisted suicide.

Not Dead Yet reported that many disability rights organizations were blocked from giving testimony at the New Jersey committee hearing earlier this month. More recently, Not Dead Yet reported that disability rights groups were forced to wait, before they could give testimony in Maryland. Anita Cameron, from Not Dead Yet, said that people with disabilities often experience complicated health and transportation issues. Sheryl Grossman, a Maryland resident with the National Council on Independent Living had to leave before she could offer testimony.

For many years the assisted suicide lobby has tried to neutralize or eliminate the effect of the disability rights groups opposition to assisted suicide. This may be a new strategy.