The Contradictory Expressive Functions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Physician-assisted Suicide Laws

Abstract

Certain laws, such as civil rights laws and criminal laws, are considered to have powerful expressive functions. The expressive functions may be directed at shifting social norms, or at articulating a social consensus about a particularly important norm. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is such a law, expressing the norm that “society’s accumulated myths and fears about persons with disabilities” are as debilitating as actual disabilities. This article will analyze the arguments of disability rights advocates that the expressive effect of laws legalizing physician-assisted suicide directly contradicts the norm of the ADA.

Keywords:

• ADA
• physician-assisted-suicide
• expressive function of law

Notes

1 CA HLTH §443.1(b); CO 25-48-102(8).

2 DC Act. 21-577, sec. 2(5); ORS 127.810 § 2.01; WA 70.254.020.

3 VT §§ 5282 & 5283(a).

4 CA HLTH §443.18; CO 25-48-121; DC Act 21-577, § 16(a); ORS §127.880 § 3.14; V.S.A. 113.5292; RCW §70.245.180.

5 CA HLTH §443.12; CO 25-48-114; DC Act 21-577, § 9; ORS §127.880 § 3.12; RCW §70.245.160.

6 CA HLTH §443.13; CO 25-48-115; DC Act 21-577 § 10; ORS §127.880 § 3.13; RCW §70.245.170.Vermont’s PAS only provides that a person shall not be denied benefits under a life insurance policy for taking advantage of the PAS. V.S.A. § 113.5287(b).

7 CA HLTH § 443.4(a). The District of Columbia and Vermont do not.

8 CA HLTH §443.17; CO 25-48-119; DC Act 21-577, § 14; ORS §127.880 § 4.02; RCW §70.245.200. Vermont does not.

9 CA HLTH §443.14(a); CO 25-48-116; DC Act 21-577, § 12; ORS §127.880 § 4.01; V.S.A. §§113.5283(a); 113.5284, & 113.5290; RCW §70.245.190(1).

10 CA HLTH §443.14(a); CO 25-48-116; DC Act 21-577, § 12; ORS §127.880 § 4.01; V.S.A. §§113.5283(a); 113.5284, & 113.5290; RCW §70.245.190(1).

11 CA HLTH §443.13(a); CO 25-48-115(1); DC Act 21-577, § 10(a); ORS §127.880 § 3.13; V.S.A. §113.5287(b); RCW §70.245.170.

12 CA HLTH §§ 443.14(e) & (15); CO §§ 25-48-116(2),117, & 118; DC Act 21-577, § 11; ORS §127.880 §§ 4.01(4) & (5); V.S.A. §§113.5285 & 113.5286; RCW §§70.245.190(1)(D) & (2).