Joni Eareckson Tada became a quadriplegic as a teenager in 1967 after a diving accident. She went on to become an artist, painting by holding the brush in her mouth, a recording artist, and an author. Most importantly, she has served the church through a lifetime of Christian theological reflection on suffering, as well as leading “Joni and Friends,” a ministry of support for people with disabilities and their families.
On Monday, Tada published the following brief statement of concern over California’s legalization of assisted suicide.
“Today, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a dangerous bill making CA the fourth state to legalize assisted suicide. Gov. Brown said he signed the bill because he wouldn’t want to be “dying in prolonged and excruciating pain” in his final days — regardless of the fact that pain relief is readily available without killing patients. But the truth is pain is not among the top reasons for why people choose assisted suicide.[1] Instead, they are psychological issues which can be effectively treated.
When I broke my neck and doctors told me I would never again have use of my hands or legs, I sank into suicidal despair. But looking back, my problem was never my spinal cord injury: my problem was clinical depression that later lifted through the support of family and Christian friends. Besides, who is to say when quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy or ALS is classified as “terminal”?
“There are tremendous risks to this new law, including suicide contagion, elder and disability abuse, and the inevitable expanse to broader groups of people to reduce their choice. So rather than making it the state’s responsibility to help despairing people kill themselves, let’s pour more effort into improving pain management therapies and strengthening the hospice movement. Let’s lift people out of depression through compassionate care. Because after all, we must do all we can to protect, defend, and preserve every life — especially those with disabilities (Isaiah 1:17).
Never heard the story of Joni? Watch her tell her story here:
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