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Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide
CCD is committed to the principles of self-determination and the positive promotion of the image of Canadians with disabilities in society in a manner that is consistent with the principles of equality, personal security, freedom of conscience and human dignity.
CCD believes that the devaluation of the lives and experiences of persons with disabilities has been used to justify acts of violence against people with disabilities, including the murder of people with disabilities.
CCD opposes actions that may serve to further devalue the lives of people with disabilities in Canada or promote the negative stereotypes about people with disabilities as suffering individuals in need of state regulated assistance to end our lives.
CCD opposes any government action which denies people with disabilities their constitutional rights to equality, personal security, and human dignity.
CCD is committed to actions which promote a positive image of persons with disabilities.
CCD opposes government action to decriminalize assisted suicide because of the serious potential for abuse and the negative image of people with disabilities that would be produced if people with disabilities are killed with state sanction. (Policy statement passed by the CCD National Council of Representatives on June 8, 1996.)
Recent Work
April 23, 2013
Prejudice Erodes Free Choice in End of Life Decision-making
Rather than a steady diet of the pathos of Susan Griffiths’ story, Free Press readers would be better served by an informed discussion of how cultural practices toward disability affect end of life choices; the need for procedural safeguards if assisted suicide is decriminalized and how decriminalization of assisted suicide will not disrupt the power imbalance between doctors and patients to the point where the Susan Griffiths of the world will receive assisted suicide on demand. Read more.
April 23, 2013
Suicide Celebration Instead of Suicide Prevention
23 April 2013, WINNIPEG, MB – According to media reports, Susan Griffiths’ assisted suicide will likely occur on Thursday (25 April 2013) at a Dignitas Clinic in Switzerland. Members of the Canadian disability community, who oppose assisted suicide, are available to discuss their concerns about assisted suicide with the media on Wednesday (24 April 2013) and Thursday (25 April 2013). Their contact information is listed below. Read more.
April 3, 2013
Canada's MPs Hear from CCD about Our Opposition to Assisted Suicide
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD), a national organization of men and women with disabilities, working for an accessible and inclusive Canada, applauds the Attorney General of Canada for appealing the decision in the Carter case, which struck down Canada’s prohibitions against assisted suicide. Read more.
More on Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide
February 5, 2013
DISABILITY RIGHTS ACTIVISTS QUESTION EFFORTS TO LEGALISE ASSISTED SUICIDE DURING SUICIDE PREVENTION WEEK
January 10, 2013
Please Oppose "Assisted Suicide"
November 17, 2011
CCD hopes court will rule no on killing
June 29, 2010
Canadians with Disabilities: We Are Not Dead Yet
June 15, 2010
Canadians with Disabilities--We Are Not Dead Yet*
December 2, 2009
Letter to the Editor: Re: Locked in Patients Humanity for the Trapped (25 November 2009)
Jim Derksen views inaccessible York Street Steps in Ottawa. CCD intervened in the Brown Case, which challenged an inadequate accommodation developed for the Steps.
The Latimer Case
The Latimer case directly concerned the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Latimer's view was that a parent has the right to kill a child with a disability if that parent decides the child's quality of life no longer warrants its continuation. CCD explained to the court and to the public how that view threatens the lives of people with disabilities and is deeply offensive to fundamental constitutional values. Learn more.