The Hemlock Society, Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Dori Zook, director of public relations for the Hemlock Society, says Hemlock supports the legalization of death medically assisted only in cases of terminal illness. And Hemlock's website states that the Society favors medically assisted suicide only for someone "who is already in the process of dying." But there is a glaring discrepancy between this official position and what leading members of Hemlock have said and done. For example, there's this little gem from Hemlock co-founder Derek Humphry's book, Final Exit: "What can those of us who sympathize with justified suicide by a handicapped person help? When do we have statutes that will allow legal aid in dying for terminally ill patients, I believe that along with this reform will come a more tolerant attitude towards other exceptional cases. "Or take the actions of the Hemlock leaders in the case of Elizabeth Bouvia. Writing about the Bouvia case, Humphrey expressed Hemlock's support for the right to voluntary euthanasia for "a person who is terminally ill, or seriously handicapped and deteriorating...." Hemlock Quarterly 14 (1984). But Ms. Bouvia was not "deteriorating." Cerebral palsy is not degenerative. The open term “impairment” can be interpreted as anything to justify the suicide of a disabled person. Bouvia's lawyers, led by Richard Scott, another Hemlock co-founder, distorted the nature of her disability, likening her to a terminal patient. “Whether Plaintiff Bouvia was an 84-year-old woman whose life was prolonged solely by various tubes and numerous machines,” they argued in Riverside Superior Court, “and sought to end such existence, is doubtful… .middle of document ...judge people with disabilities, they must publicly denounce Jack Kevorkian's bigotry. The above statements and actions are neither vague nor taken out of context, RTD leaders, from time to time, have demonstrated the same desire to promote this final "solution" to the problems of people with disabilities. Taken together, these words and actions mark a clear and consistent pattern of promoting assisted suicide for people with disabilities assisted suicide? Perhaps they tailor their message depending on the immediate political climate and who they think is listening. For the sake of all of us listening, we call on Hemlock, his leaders and his allies to step forward with courage. and honesty to clearly state their full agenda.