Disabled community worried about being used as 'pawns' in assisted dying debate

Independent Living Movement Ireland Development officer, Peter Kearns, said many with disabilities are “hugely concerned” and opposed to legislation as it could become a “slippery slope” moving from the “subjective undefined phrase of ‘dying with dignity’ to assisted suicide”. File photo: Andrew Matthews/PA

Those living with disabilities do not wish to be used as “pawns” for either side of the debate on assisted dying and are “hugely concerned” about legislation, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

At previous hearings, the committee heard that disability should not be an eligibility criteria to access assisted dying while other witnesses have said people with disabilities should not be excluded from access if criteria were met.

Independent Living Movement Ireland Development officer, Peter Kearns, said it is vital that the voices of those living with disabilities are heard in the debate.

“No politician can or should claim to speak for disabled people. Too often in discussions like this, disabled people’s lives are used as a political football,” he said.

Mr Kearns said many with disabilities are “hugely concerned” and opposed to legislation as it could become a “slippery slope” moving from the “subjective undefined phrase of ‘dying with dignity’ to assisted suicide”.

“In other jurisdictions where assisted suicide has been legislated for, disabled people frequently speak about feeling hopeless, having nothing to live for or feeling they would be better off dead and take the State’s only clear support ‘option’ to cross the Rubicon to clinical assisted suicide,” he said.

Mr Kearns said assisted dying could lead to those with disabilities making choices where, due to a lack of supports that enable them to live a “free full life”, they begin to view themselves as a “burden” on families, the State and Irish society as well as feeling that their lives are not worth living.

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Disability Federation of Ireland chief executive, John Dolan, said it is important that the State does not unduly have an “invisible hand” or influence in the decision of someone to end their life because it has not supported disabled people to have a life of independence which is equal to everyone else.

People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny, noted that in the vast majority of jurisdictions where assisted dying has been legislated, someone cannot avail of assisted dying on the grounds of disability.

“I think conflating the issue around assisted dying is not helpful and there is an element of scaremongering in relation to issues that should not be conflated to assisted dying,” he said.