Diane Coleman, President of Not Dead Yet, to testify before The Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Hearing on "The Consequences of Legalized Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia"

Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226
Washington, DC

For more information:
Diane Coleman, Stephen Drake,
708-209-1500, exts. 11 &. 29

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2006 -- Diane Coleman will present invited testimony before a Senate subcommittee on Thursday, May 25, 2006 in her role as president and founder of Not Dead Yet. Not Dead Yet is a national disability rights organization that leads and organizes the disability community's opposition to legalized assisted suicide, euthanasia and other forms of medical killing.

Excerpt from submitted testimony:

The first thing I want to emphasize is that I'm sick and tired of the hypocrisy on both sides of the culture war in this debate.

I'm sick and tired of our opponents on this issue, often our liberal or progressive allies on other issues, who over simplify the dangers facing disabled people who depend on others for basic needs. Court appointed and statutory guardians have potential conflicts of interest. The most common are the spouse and adult child, who are also the most common perpetrators of elder abuse. If we were talking about child abuse, everyone would admit that there is a legitimate role for government intervention, carefully balanced against privacy rights. Do people in guardianship deserve less? Nor can we trust state courts as the final word. If we were talking about death penalty cases, most would admit that the courts are far from infallible, and that a right of federal review is an important protection for the constitutional rights of the accused.  Do people in guardianship deserve less?

I'm also sick and tired of our allies on this issue, often our conservative opponents on other issues, who see assisted suicide and euthanasia as violating their principles, but see no contradiction as they slash budgets for the health care we need to survive. The Republican Governor of Missouri has cut Medicaid funding for feeding tubes and ventilators, establishing a difficult procedure to get these devices, with most who try to use it reportedly failing to get what they need. Jeb Bush just cut Medicaid coverage for the food that goes in the feeding tube by adding similar burdensome procedures. The irony is not lost on us, but media exposure in Florida put this action on hold. This is nothing less than back-door euthanasia. And let's face it, much of the struggle at the state level flows from federal cuts. Back-door euthanasia.

Read complete testimony.