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cw: assisted death, eugenics, Holocaust
I've seen few MDs in my immediate vicinity speaking about #BillC7, the bill to expand access to MAiD to individuals who's death is not imminently foreseeable.
I was hoping to stay out of the debate, but I don't think I can anymore.
1/14
I've seen few MDs in my immediate vicinity speaking about #BillC7, the bill to expand access to MAiD to individuals who's death is not imminently foreseeable.
I was hoping to stay out of the debate, but I don't think I can anymore.
1/14
I remember a friend voicing his concerns re: MAiD to me years ago before it was legal in any form. I all but 
'd his concerns.
"You don't get it, this isn't coercing anyone into anything, this is about ending suffering".
I was so sure I was on the right side of history
2/14
'd his concerns."You don't get it, this isn't coercing anyone into anything, this is about ending suffering".
I was so sure I was on the right side of history
2/14
Fast forward some years and I found myself in medical school and on Twitter.
I read story after story after harrowing story of disabled people sharing their experiences being demeaned, disempowered, denied dignity by the healthcare system.
And I got really defensive
3/14
I read story after story after harrowing story of disabled people sharing their experiences being demeaned, disempowered, denied dignity by the healthcare system.
And I got really defensive
3/14
It was difficult to accept that I was part of a system that could treat people so horribly.
Many of these stories sounded inconceivable to me. I wanted to brush them off as anecdotes, anomalies, and certainly not indicative of a systemic problem
4/14
Many of these stories sounded inconceivable to me. I wanted to brush them off as anecdotes, anomalies, and certainly not indicative of a systemic problem
4/14
I didn't have a lightbulb moment per se. But the seeds were planted in my brain and I started noticing how my peers and staff spoke about disabled patients.
And I learned more about power in society and who is written off and who gets given the benefit of the doubt
5/14
And I learned more about power in society and who is written off and who gets given the benefit of the doubt
5/14
I still find this all really difficult & upsetting to grapple with.
Like, it is very difficult to accept that you're part of a system that is actively harmful to vulnerable individuals on the daily, but it's reality
6/14
Like, it is very difficult to accept that you're part of a system that is actively harmful to vulnerable individuals on the daily, but it's reality
6/14
When I started hearing disabled activists on here talk about how #BillC7 would pressure disabled people into ending their lives, I was horrified because deep down I knew they were right.
There is precedent for this
7/14
There is precedent for this
7/14
Just one example: Roger Foley, a man living with cerebellar ataxia in Ontario, was denied home care that would enable him to live independently in the community, and was offered MAiD instead
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/chronically-ill-man-releases-audio-of-hospital-staff-offering-assisted-death-1.4038841
8/14
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/chronically-ill-man-releases-audio-of-hospital-staff-offering-assisted-death-1.4038841
8/14
I'm not an expert on ableism in medicine or MAiD or #BillC7.
I do believe that removing safeguards currently in place (not perfect btw) will have horrifying consequences for disabled people.
I will now share some resources that shaped my understanding of this issue
9/14
I do believe that removing safeguards currently in place (not perfect btw) will have horrifying consequences for disabled people.
I will now share some resources that shaped my understanding of this issue
9/14
I have learned lots from @mssinenomine @SpringHawes and @patitsel in particular and recommend giving them a follow if you haven't already.
The website by Dignity Denied has a rich archive of resources and FAQs relevant to this bill: https://dignitydenied.ca/resources/
10/14
The website by Dignity Denied has a rich archive of resources and FAQs relevant to this bill: https://dignitydenied.ca/resources/
10/14
I have learned from @RicharLisa bringing a critical Indigenous lens to this issue and @NaheedD's perspective as a palliative care doctor. Both these physicians bring years of experience working with individuals living under the weight of societal marginalization.
11/14
11/14
While seemingly not directly related, I learned a lot about eugenics in medicine (which persists to this day & is relevant to #BillC7) from this seminar about physicians' role in the Holocaust.
Fellow MDs, this is a high yield use of your time: http://daradocs.org/webinar/
12/14
Fellow MDs, this is a high yield use of your time: http://daradocs.org/webinar/
12/14
I've resisted weighing in on this issue in part because I have many friends & cherished colleagues who provide MAiD and I hope you understand this is not meant at all as a criticism of the work you are doing now, but rather an expression of concern for the future
13/14
13/14
Finally, for my fellow MDs: we don't talk nearly enough about how we uphold ableism as doctors. This has gotta change.
I find this a really tough and upsetting topic to grapple with.
We need to be gentle with ourselves as we learn and strive to do better.
14/14
I find this a really tough and upsetting topic to grapple with.
We need to be gentle with ourselves as we learn and strive to do better.
14/14
