A coalition of 17 disability groups have weighed in on Terri’s right to life– not to allow the courts to sentence her to death in the absence of a clear statement on Terri’s part. They all believe you must not allow her life support to be removed. See a few more articles on these groups here and here.
The 17 organizations involved in the filing are: Not Dead Yet; ADAPT; Arc of the United States (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens); Center on Self-Determination; Center on Human Policy at Syracuse University; Disability Rights Center; Freedom Clearinghouse; Hospice Patients Alliance; Mouth Magazine; National Council on Independent Living; National Disabled Students Union; National Spinal Cord Injury Association; Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered; Society for Disability Studies; TASH (formerly the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps); World Association of Persons with Disabilities; and World Institute on Disability.
A representative from “Not Dead Yet” said:
“A judge’s order to terminate the life of a woman with severe disabilities is not a private family matter,” said attorney Max Lapertosa, the brief’s author, in a press release.
“Terminating Ms. Schiavo’s life support would not be possible without the authority of the courts,” he added. “This case reflects whether our society and legal system value the lives of people with disabilities equally to those without disabilities.”
“Defend the poor and the fatherless, do justice for the afflicted and the needy”. Psalm 82:3
