Member

The reality is that there are deep fears and concerns out there among disabled people. One of the biggest concerns that many of us have with this Bill is around the issue of coercion. It is not simply about the clear-cut form of coercion of family members pushing a person into an assisted death; it can be a much more subtle process. The concern is that disabled people will be made to feel a burden and that the only route out for them is an assisted death. Further, if they feel that they are getting suggestions or if it is being raised in conversations with medical professionals, that puts an additional pressure on them, particularly so for those with suicidal ideation. Picking up remarks and suggestions can lead people down a path along which they do not have to go.