By SPUC—the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
Liz Carr, a prominent figure in the disability rights movement, has been commissioned by the BBC to produce and present a documentary on the potential dangers of assisted suicide.
Lizz Car, aged 51, is a broadcaster, comedian and actress who also uses a wheelchair. She has expressed opposition to the legalisation of assisted suicide in the UK, previously stating that: “I am concerned that we have so devalued certain groups of people – those who are ill, disabled, or elderly – that I believe it is not in their best interests to enshrine in law the right of doctors to kill certain people.”
The automobile will now be utilized to create and present a documentary, provisionally titled “Better Off Dead?,” which will challenge the pro-assisted suicide narrative. Additionally, the programme will examine the case of Canada, where over 40,000 individuals have been killed by assisted suicide since 2016.
“It is a common experience for disabled people to be told by strangers that they would be better off dead,” Car stated. The devaluation of life has been documented in medical settings, where disabled and older individuals have had “do not resuscitate” orders placed on their medical records without their consent.
The objective of this documentary is to challenge the underlying assumptions that inform these actions and to illuminate the numerous grey areas that often characterise this debate, which is often perceived as being one-sided.
The documentary is scheduled for broadcast on BBC One and the iPlayer.
It is imperative that the general public be made aware of the pertinent information.
In a statement released by SPUC, Michael Robinson, the organisation’s Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: The threat to the disabled, as well as other vulnerable groups, from assisted suicide is profound, most of all because it is founded on the dangerous idea that some lives are not worth living or even worthy of life.
As Liz Carr has also observed, individuals with learning disabilities were served “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) notices during the COVID-19 pandemic, as reported by SPUC in 2021.
It is our hope that Carr will provide a voice for those who feel increasingly ostracized and even pressured to die by a society that prioritizes convenience and cost over life.
The legalisation of assisted suicide would set a dangerous precedent, creating a slippery slope that, as evidenced by the experience of Canada, could result in thousands of unnecessary deaths. It is imperative that the general public be made aware of the alarming reality and potential dangers associated with assisted suicide.
The only effective means of protection is to refrain from legalising it in the first place.
There is a growing concern in Canada regarding the rising number of deaths.
In 2020, Roger Foley, 45, cautioned Canadian MPs that Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying Law (MAiD) would result in disabled individuals such as himself being compelled to engage in assisted suicide, particularly due to the exorbitant costs associated with healthcare.
In a previous report, SPUC highlighted the case of a 31-year-old Canadian woman with disabilities who was conditionally granted assisted suicide after being unable to find suitable, clean housing. The wheelchair-using individual, who suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), stated that her decision to opt for assisted suicide was driven by the necessity to escape from the abject poverty she was experiencing.
A memorandum was recently disseminated among medical practitioners in the Canadian province of Quebec, requesting that they adhere to the legal limitations following a notable 54% surge in assisted suicides in Quebec between 2021 and 2022. This period also saw the potential occurrence of 15 wrongful deaths.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
