To the editor:

The Center for Disability Rights (CDR) takes great offense to Jay Federman’s letter to the editor (“Center for Disability Rights wrong on Medical Aid in Dying,” Jan. 24) regarding the recent article published by the Adirondack Daily Enterprise on “Medical Aid in Dying,” aka physician-assisted suicide (the term used by the American Medical Association).

First, the CDR is an organization that is run by a board and is staffed by a majority of disabled individuals, unlike Arc New York. Additionally, CDR serves New Yorkers of all disabilities and has fought to protect and expand the civil rights of disabled New Yorkers for decades. While Arc New York does work with people with disabilities, it focuses on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, leaving out many in the disabled community. The comparison of the two is wrong and is yet another example of non-disabled people deciding what is best for disabled individuals. CDR’s position on assisted suicide aligns with other state and national groups, including the New York Association on Independent Living, the American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, the American Medical Association, the National Council on Disability, the National Council on Independent Living, and Arc of the United States (the national affiliate of Arc New York).

Mr. Federman says, “Having a disability is NOT a terminal diagnosis.” CDR agrees with this. However, people with terminal diagnoses will eventually become disabled. Mr. Federman knows this but is conveniently ignoring this fact to misrepresent the issue. Mr. Federman also speaks of safeguards and of other states where assisted suicide is allowed, claiming there are no cases of coercion or abuse. Although some cases have been reported, it’s difficult to prove what is said and done to an ill person behind closed doors after the victim is deceased. Moreover, reporting and data collection are hardly adequate, which is why, based on a report issued by the state of Oregon in 2023, of the 431 people who had prescriptions of lethal dosages written in 2022, there are 101, or almost 25%, with an unknown ingestion status.

The conversation around physician-assisted suicide is serious and complicated. Oversimplifying or disregarding facts around the issue does not help anyone. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and opinions, but it is wrong to silence and dismiss marginalized voices, such as those from the disability community, simply because you do not agree with them.

Max Rodriguez

Manager of Government Affairs, Center for Disability Rights

Albany