Not Dead Yet, Press Release

Not Dead Yet the resistance in Black Gothic Lettering

7521 Madison St * Forest Park, IL 60130 * Voice/TTY: 708-209-1500 * Fax: 708-209-1735 * TTY: 708-209-1826

U.S.Disability Rights Group Awaits Pretty Decision

Aprominent disability rights group in the United States is hoping the European Appeal Court rejects the idea that It's better to be dead than disabled. In a case being heard tomorrow - in Strasbourg, France - Diane Pretty, a woman with motor neuron disease, is appealing a House of Lords ruling that he husband will not be immune from prosecution if he assists her suicide.

"What Pretty is asking for would put all disabled people in danger, but especially disabled women. As a severely disabled woman, the dangers of permitting men to assist our suicides should be obvious," says Diane Coleman, President of the U.S. disability group, NotDead Yet. "First, if I were suicidal, I would get a very different response than a nondisabled woman, ambivalence or possibly even encouragement that my death would be better. Moreover, suppose I'm not suicidal but my husband would rather get on with his life without me? New research at Colorado State University has found that two-thirds of those whose lives are ended by mercy killing are women. It's far too easy to make a murder look like an assisted suicide."

"We were relieved when the U.K. decision upheld the legal prohibition against euthanasia and assisting in a suicide. In this way, the U. K. justices affirmed that the murders of old, ill and disabled people are crimes every bit as serious as the murders of nondisabled people," said Stephen Drake, research analyst for Not DeadYet.

The British Council of Disabled People has also issued a statement opposing Pretty's attempt to have her husband's assistance in her suicide sanctioned by the European Appeal Court.

In addition to Not Dead Yet, 10 other national disability rights groups in theU.S. have adopted positions against legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Not Dead Yet is based in Forest Park, Illinois in the United States. Their website is located at: http://www.notdeadyet.org