Haleigh Poutre’s New Life and the Flawed Lessons People are Taking Away From Her Story

…se. The press, of course, just parrot the professional jargon they’re fed. Thaddeus Pope claims that “her (Haleigh’s) story powerfully illustrates the limits of prognostication for some critically ill patients.” That’s not accurate at all. Her story illustrates what can happen when doctors ignore long-established guidelines regarding wait periods for comas in making a determination of persistent vegetative state. Eight days doesn’t come close. The…

Text of NDY Spoken Comments on Futile Care Laws and Policies Before the National Council on Disability

…ying desired health care could do so. Another critic is Professor Thaddeus Pope, who wrote about the Oklahoma law in a piece entitled “Defending Disability Discrimination.”[3] Pope argued that the new law’s “blanket prohibition rests on a limited and inaccurate assumption that considerations of an individual’s disability could never have the possibility of being relevant to the appropriateness of medical treatment. Settled principles of law and et…

India – Newest Case of Person Demanding Treatment/Money or Euthanasia (“Your Money or My Life”)

…it seems like I’ve been drawing quite a bit on material from the Thaddeus Pope‘s Medical Futility Blog. Mostly it’s because Pope is really good at digging out stories that fly under the radar of most of us. More than occasionally, he’ll write something that is too tempting to ignore. That’s true with his latest blog entry, regarding the newest request by a citizen of India to be euthanized if they can’t get aid or treatment for the condition or d…

New Jersey/Futility: Oral Arguments in Betancourt v. Trinitas (Appellate Court)

…case with oral arguments. Of additional interest, Professor Thaddeus Mason Pope will follow Anne Studholme. Pope maintains the Medical Futility Blog – and it’s unusual to see him play this role in a futility case. NDY Activist, Organizer and Scholar Nadina LaSpina will be attending the hearing with other activists from NYC. I hope to get an account from her later this week. Below is the oral argument written by Anne Studholme: May it please the co…

NY Times Blog: “When Doctors Steal Hope” (and more)

…io, which is treated as all-too-common. As part of her exploration, Parker-Pope solicits the input and expertise of Dr. Jerome Groopman, the author of several books, including “How Doctors Think.” Groopman was the author of the New Yorker article discussed on this blog recently. Here’s what Groopman had to say to Parker-Pope: Dr. Groopman says he is troubled by stories like the one involving my friend, but he’s not entirely surprised, either. In t…