Health Justice Commons Launches Medical Abuse Hotline In Honor of Carrie Ann Lucas

Image description: The late Carrie Ann Lucas, wearing a lime green dress, appears in court using her power wheelchair. Image credit: The Colorado Independent.
The following are excerpts from an announcement by Health Justice Commons of a new Medical Abuse Hotline to honor Carrie Ann’s legacy and support our communities.

“On February 24th, 2019, Carrie Ann Lucas, a beloved and renowned disability rights attorney and trailblazer who innovated representation for parents with disabilities, died after being denied a $2,000 medication for a lung infection by her health insurer, UnitedHealthcare. Lucas was forced into taking a less expensive medication she was known to be allergic to, resulting in a rapid health decline with numerous hospital stays over her last year, and causing her to lose the  ability to speak. Her Facebook obituary notes, ‘UnitedHealthcare’s attempt to save $2,000 cost over $1 million in health care expenses over the past year.’ More importantly, it cost Lucas her life.

“Lucas gained national attention in June 2017, after staging a multi-day protest with other Atlantis ADAPT (based in Denver) members inside the Denver office of Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) to demand republicans cease efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Carrie Ann resisted arrest by refusing to tell police officers how to operate her motorized wheelchair. Learn more about Carrie Ann’s life and work.

“The Health Justice Commons mourns and rages for this tragic and profoundly unjust loss.

“In the days leading up to her death, Carrie Ann was also forced to ration her insulin. According to a recent study from the Yale Diabetes Center, 1 in 4 Americans with Diabetes engage in insulin rationing due to skyrocketing prices and the complicity of health insurers, the majority of those rationing have health insurance.

“. . . Withholding access to healthcare or live-sustaining medication is medical torture. It profoundly violates our most basic human rights and dignity. Withholding access to healthcare is one of the most prevalent and pervasive forms of social control of our times. . . .

“Share Your Solidarity Story. Help transform US healthcare.

“To honor Carrie Ann’s legacy, we’re launching a national Medical Abuse Hotline to expose how common medical abuse truly is, hold health insurers and institutions accountable, and create real system-wide solutions! OUR SURVIVOR STORIES MUST BE HEARD!

“Want to share your story?

“Have you survived medical abuse, the denial of medication, medical equipment or care? Are you being forced into insulin rationing? – Contact us.”

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