Norman Kunc: Legalizing Assisted Suicide takes away the mental health safety net for people with disabilities.

Norman Kunc - Project Value

When I was born the doctors told my parents to put me in an institution.

Luckily, my parents ignored the doctor's advice and took me home.

Initially I went to a segregated school, and then argued my way into a regular school.

I went on to complete an undergrad in Humanities and a Master's in Family Therapy.

I now have a successful carreer as a speaker.

I'm married, I have two grown children, and I have a great life.

In the discussion about Canada's assisted dying legislation, many people don't realize how making disability a legitimate condition for suicide jeopardizes the safety of all disabled Canadians.

Norm & Emma

So let me try to explain.

What would happen if my wife died and I became depressed and suicidal?

Now if a non-disabled Canadian becomes suicidal, there is a commitment among psychiatrists and counsellors to rekindle that person's disire to live, and if necessary to protect that person from themselves.

However, as a disabled Canadian, if I become suicidal it is possible and even likely that the psychiatrist will see that as a rational and informed decision.

And that commitment to help me move through and beyond my suicidal state might now be seen as forcing me to live an unbearable life.

And so that psychiatrist may, in fact, help me die.

That terrifies me.

As a disabled Canadian, I want the same commitment to suicide prevention that is afforded to non-disabled Canadians.

This assisted-dying legislation takes away the mental health safety net for disabled Canadians.

• Previous articles concerning Norman Kunc.

Euthanasia: Death is not preferable to living with a significant disability.

Norman Kunc

I'm a non-religious man with cerebral palsy. I oppose legalizing euthanasia because i've seen far too many unrequested do-not-resuscitate orders placed on my disabled friends and colleagues. This occurs because many doctors, like most of society, believe that death is preferable to living with a significant disability.

Legalizing euthanasia doesn't give people the right to die; it gives people the right to request to die.

The doctor, not the patient, gets the power to decide. Legalizing Euthanasia adds significant legitimacy to the practice of placing unrequested DNRs on disabled people.

Privileged non-disabled people are trying to legalize euthanasia so they can gain the right to die. Many marginalized devalued disabled people are opposing legalizing euthanasia because we want the right to be safe in hospitals.

Norman Kunc - New Westminster BC

Previous posts from Norman Kunc:

● Youtube Video by Norman Kunc: Euthanasia at the Water Cooler.

Great Success: Disability Rights Leadership Institute on Bioethics.

Diane Coleman

By Diane Coleman, the President of Not Dead Yet. 

This article was published on May 2 on the Not Dead Yet blog.

Months of work came to fruition on April 25 – 26, 2014 at the Crystal City Marriott in Arlington, VA. Conference planning experts told us to expect a 10% no show rate, but out of our final count of 68 who signed up to attend (we had initially expected about 50), only 3 missed it. That’s a clue about the amazing level of participation we had for the first ever Disability Rights Leadership Institute on Bioethics (DRLIB).

Before talking about the program, I first want to thank our sponsors: National Disability Leadership Alliance, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, National Council on Independent Living and, of course, Not Dead Yet.

All of DRLIB’s sponsors and participants also want to thank our generous supporters: Aging With Dignity, Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living, Yoshiko Dart, Gail Ludwig and Clarissa Kripke, Michigan Disability Rights Coalition, Montanans Against Assisted Suicide, Patients’ Rights Action Fund and United Spinal.

I also want to thank the Center for Disability Rights for designing and printing our conference programs and sending their extraordinary executive administrative assistant Linda Taylor to manage our check in desk, and TRIPIL’s Kathleen Kleinmann, DREDF’s Rhonda Neuhaus and disability bioethicist Joe Stramondo for volunteering there too.

Friday was the focus for NDY and DREDF, addressing issues around assisted suicide and withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. I was the first presenter, on the latter subject, starting out with a dilemma:

I really feel that we need a lively opening and those of you who know me realize, as I do, that I’m a bit too wonky for that. Throughout the Institute I’ll be turning to so many of you for help, so I want to start off with a brilliant piece by Norm Kunc.

Norm Kunc

Norm was there, and his “Euthanasia Blues” provided a rollicking start.

My wonky part was described this way in the program: Medical discrimination against people with disabilities, sometimes resulting in death through the nonconsensual withholding of life sustaining treatment, has been a longstanding and increasing concern among disability advocates, especially under the threat of healthcare budget cuts and rationing. Over the last two decades, health care decisions laws have been amended to increase the likelihood that people will sign advance directives and POLST forms refusing life sustaining treatment, and that surrogate decision makers will refuse treatment on behalf of relatives without advance directives. There are also concerns about organ transplant professionals denying transplant eligibility based on disability, as well as pushing for withdrawal of life support from disabled people in order to harvest their organs for others. Most states have “futile care” laws and policies allowing physicians to withhold life-sustaining treatment over the expressed objection of the individual or their surrogate. Evidence of passive euthanasia in violation of the civil rights of people with disabilities, such as that described in the National Disability Rights Network report, “Devaluing People with Disabilities: Medical Procedures that Violate Civil Rights” (May 2012), will be explored, as well as potential avenues for addressing these violations.

Media Release: EPC wants BC Court of Appeal to reverse errors in assisted court decision.

Media Release - March 17, 2013

EPC wants BC Court of Appeal to reverse errors in assisted court decision.

Norman Kunc

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC), an intervener in the assisted suicide case at the BC Court of Appeal, is asking the BC Court of Appeal to reverse the errors in the Carter decision concerning assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Norman Kunc, a long-time disability rights activist will be speaking out against assisted suicide at the Monday morning courthouse demonstration. 

Kunc who has cerebral palsy will share his story and his perspective on behalf of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, and explain why 2012's Carter case will harm citizens with disabilities.

EPC Vice President, Dr Margaret Cottle, who specializes in palliative care stated: 

“Legalizing euthanasia or assisted suicide would give doctors the power over life and death. I am concerned about patient safety.” "Elder abuse is already difficult to detect and would be no easier to combat when a suicide offer is part of the culture of care for a vulnerable older person. Giving legal immunity to those who would provide suicide does not make our loved ones safer."

EPC legal counsel, Hugh Scher stated: 

“EPC is concerned about the safety, security and equality of people with disabilities and seniors which is central to the protections set out under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our Criminal Code.”

 EPC Executive Director, Alex Schadenberg, stated: 

“the Carter decision erred in several significant areas … the judge came to her decision by falsely assuming that there is a ‘right to suicide’ in Canada.” 

Schadenberg further explained: “the Carter decision misinterpreted the data from other jurisdictions that legalized assisted death when it suggested that there is no significant risk to vulnerable patient groups. A recent study found that 32% of all assisted deaths in Belgium were done without request. The study revealed that incompetent people who are over the age of 80 are vulnerable to dying by an assisted death without request.”

For more information, contact:
Norman Kunc, disability leader: (604) 366-6263, ndkunc@gmail.com

Dr Margaret Cottle, EPC Vice President (604) 813-8665, mmcottle@mac.com

Hugh Scher, EPC Legal Counsel: (416) 816-6115, hugh@sdlaw.ca

Alex Schadenberg, EPC Executive Director: (519) 851-1434, info@epcc.ca

Why do non-disabled people get suicide prevention, while disabled people get suicide assistance?

SUICIDE PREVENTION FOR ALL!

NO ASSISTED SUICIDE!

·  When a bullied adolescent, a victim of gay bashing or a bereaved spouse is suicidal, that person gets suicide prevention services.  When a person with a disability says he wants to die, he is given assisted suicide.

·  What about the right to cry for help?

·  When the law allows assisted suicide, it’s saying that some lives are more worth saving than others.

ASSISTED SUICIDE IS A DISABILITY ISSUE!

·  Assisted suicide and euthanasia are not restricted to people with terminal illness.

·  Nearly every person who requests assisted suicide has a physical, mental or sensory impairment that limits major life activities.

·  Of those who request assisted suicide in Oregon, the majority do so because of issues related to disability, not pain.

ASSISTED SUICIDE IS A RECIPE FOR ABUSE

·  People with disabilities and older people are more than twice as likely as non-disabled people to be financially, emotionally, and physically abused. Assisted suicide will make this problem deadly.

·  When disabled people go to the hospital, they may face pressure to refuse treatment, or denial of urgent care.

·  Safeguards are ineffective.

·  Financial and social pressure often cause people to ask for assisted suicide

·  Tests for “competence” are not designed to detect depression, grief, or other treatable problems that can lead to suicidal feelings.

·  In places where assisted suicide and euthanasia are legal, problems may go undetected because sometimes doctors don’t file the required reports.

·  Creating an exception to the assisted suicide ban for a few people poses a serious danger for many more people. (Canadians have reject capital punishment for the possibility that even one person might be wrongfully killed).

CHOICE IS AN ILLUSION

·   Current law gives everyone the right to refuse medical treatment, food and water, even if that causes death.

·   The “choice” to die is an illusion because discrimination and lack of access to palliative care, in-home services and supports limit the quality of life of older and disabled people. These factors create economic and social pressure that can tip the scale.

·   How can you make a free choice to die when you don’t have a free choice in where or how you live?

 People with disabilities don’t need to die to have dignity!

Disability is not a death sentence…Yet!

Fight to live well, not to die!

WE’RE NOT DEAD YET!

Contact: Norm Kunc, 604-366-6263; Dr. Margaret Cottle, 604-813-8665
Amy Hasbrouck, 450-921-3057; 

Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet (amy.hasbrouck@tv-ndy.ca)

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (1-877-439-3348, info@epcc.ca)

Euthanasia at the water cooler.

Euthanasia at the water cooler is a video that was produced by Vancouver area disability leader, Norman Kunc.

Kunc brought a version of this video to the meeting of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition (EPC) BC to seek our feedback. At the meeting, Kunc explained that he was inspired to produce this video while attending the protest, on March 4, 2013, near the courthouse in Vancouver. Kunc was speaking on behalf of EPC - BC at the protest. 

Norman & Emma

CBC interviewed Norman at the demonstration. There is a video interview, with Kunc, linked to the CBC news article from March 4.

Kunc explained that at the protest he struck up a conversation with a woman who was attending the pro-euthanasia demonstration that was happening at the same time. 

After he got home, Kunc wrote down his thoughts related to the conversation and then created the you tube video Euthanasia at the water cooler as a representation of that conversation.

We are looking forward to more youtube video's by Norman Kunc.