Lives on the Line: Disabled Perspective and the Research Deficit on MAID

Author: Jacqueline Carlson

Field of Study: Health and Wellness

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Will Glovinsky

Easel: 22

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) has become a highly debated issue within bioethics, commonly framed in terms of individual autonomy and pain relief. Yet vulnerable groups such as the disabled population are often sideline in this ethical debate. The lack of representation of the disabled community within ethical discussions and narratives raises concerns regarding the risks of normalizing MAID within a society where disabilities are often stigmatized. By examining the work of disability advocate Antia Cameron and related literature, this research seeks to explore the ethical debates on MAID and disability rights, how a lack of disabled voices within the broader ethical discourse on MAID may inadvertently perpetuate harmful stereotypes and enforce particular end of life care. The research underscores the intersection of disability, autonomy, healthcare policy and practice, thus calling attention to experiences of disabled individuals within bioethical conversations about MAID.