Reflections on the debate on disability and aid in dying.
BACKGROUND
A policy resolution supporting physician aid in dying was proposed to the American Public Health Association (APHA) in 2007 that prompted a debate with the Disability Section on its meaning for people with disabilities.


OBJECTIVE
The present paper reflects on the issues revealed and lessons learned.


METHODS
The debate included subcommittee discussion; review of research, polls, administrative reports; discussion with disability rights organizations; and floor-debate and vote by the APHA Governing Council.


RESULTS
Reflections on the process are summarized under the themes: we all have our own views; it's highly personal; confusion among key concepts; I might want it for myself; it's about control and not about pain; the slippery slope and other arguments; and undue burden on people with disabilities.


CONCLUSIONS
The APHA resolution supporting aid in dying was passed in 2008 with some improvements in the language and a recommendation to measure pre-existing disability. Valuable lessons were learned through the debate process.
Oregon Institute on Disability and Development, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA. Gfk2@cdc.gov
Gloria L
GL
Krahn
D003657:Decision Making; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D033161:Government Regulation; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D009922:Oregon; D016134:Organizational Policy; D028701:Patient Rights / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011634:Public Health / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D017236:Suicide, Assisted / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States