Thursday, June 13, 2013

Not Dead Yet group launches euthanasia education initiative in Quebec

Yesterday, Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet sent out the following media release in response to the Quebec government bill to legalize euthanasia.




Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet launches euthanasia education initiative

MONTREAL, June 12, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet announced today an initiative to respond to Québec's proposed law to allow euthanasia of people with disabilities, whether or not they have a terminal illness. The initiative is designed to educate the disability community and the general public about the potential dangers of euthanasia for elders and people with disabilities.

TVNDY points out that requests for euthanasia are really requests for suicide requests. People making such requests should be given suicide prevention services, instead of being helped to kill themselves. TVNDY believes the push for euthanasia laws is a product of discriminatory assumptions about the value and quality of life of people with disabilities, as well as public policies that prevent disabled people from enjoying equal rights.

Toujours Vivant-Not Dead Yet (TVNDY) is a project of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities whose mission is to unite and give voice to the disability opposition to assisted suicide, euthanasia and similar end-of-life practices. Based in Québec, TVNDY is a progressive, non-religious organization run by and for people with disabilities that examines end-of-life issues from a disability rights perspective.
Amy Hasbrouck with John Kelly

The education initiative will include making more articles and publications by disability rights scholars and activists available in French via the group's website (TVNDY.ca), online discussion sessions, outreach to disability groups, and conducting a survey of the experiences of people with disabilities related to end-of-life issues.

For further information:
Amy Hasbrouck
450-921-3057,  or amy.hasbrouck@tv-ndy.ca

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