Café Inquiry Grand Rapids – IN PERSON – Assisted Suicide and Disability Rights

Assisted suicide is legal throughout Canada. However, there is controversy about who should be eligible. In 2021, the eligibility was extended to people who do not have terminal medical conditions. There has been concern among the disabled community that this extension puts their members at risk due to lack of medical, financial and social support for Canadians with disabilities. There is concern that people will be coerced into assisted suicide because of this lack of support and bias against the disabled among healthcare providers. At the next Café Inquiry we will examine the pros and cons of this revision in the context of disability rights. If you would like to explore the topic before we meet, here are some suggested links: a webpage supported by the group Dying with Dignity, which was in support of the original law and the revision; a letter in opposition to the bill that extended the criteria; a statement by Gabrielle Peters, a co-founder of the Disability Filibuster, a movement protesting the revision; and the (very lengthy) report from the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. Additional material may be posted during the week of the event. Hope to see you IN PERSON on the 13th to discuss this important and complicated topic!

Café Inquiry starts with a short introduction of the day’s topic, followed by casual discussion.

This event is free and open to the public. Donations appreciated, but not expected.

Attendees are able to future propose topics which would align with Michigan Humanist’s purpose: from atheism, agnosticism, humanism, secularism, and freethinking to broader subjects in science and humanities, such as religion, philosophy, social issues, politics, evolution, morality, ethics, and psychology.

Café Inquiry (Grand Rapids) meets each month IN PERSON on the second Sunday and ONLINE on the fourth Sunday.

—

Michigan Humanists values the participation of all guests — requests for reasonable accommodation may be made by contacting the event host at least three days prior to the event.

Michigan Humanists expects all guests to engage in respectful discussion. Critiques on views and claims based on merit are allowed, but not attacks on individuals who hold other perspectives.

Any person engaging in disruptive behavior or harassment will be asked to leave, and may be banned from future events pending the severity of the action. Please speak to the event host or contact info@michiganhumanists.org if you feel these expectations are being violated.