Attitudes of Persons With Physical Disabilities Toward Physician-Assisted Death

Abstract

Physician-assisted death (PAD) has been a passionately debated topic among people with disabilities. Opponents of legalized PAD have argued that social discrimination has rendered persons with disabilities a “vulnerable population” who could be pressured to “choose” death even when not mentally competent to do so. However, the data from Oregon do not appear to support the idea that persons choosing PAD were doing so out of psychological or social distress. An exploratory survey of persons with physical disabilities shows that respondents endorse a wide variety of views regarding PAD. Personal reflections and public policy considerations are discussed.