Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

John Kelly: Revised How-To Guide for Urging Veto if CA Assisted Suicide Bill; Talking Points

September 19, 2015assisted suicide, california, Californians Against Assisted Suicide, john kelly, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughtsassisted suicide, John Kelly, Second ThoughtsDiane Coleman

[Editor’s Note: This is an urgent update of John Kelly’s September 13th blog on ways to reach California Governor Jerry Brown to urge him to veto the assisted suicide bill. It’s a bill that failed in the regular legislative session but was revived and rammed through a special session that was convened to address the Medicaid … Continue reading John Kelly: Revised How-To Guide for Urging Veto if CA Assisted Suicide Bill; Talking Points →

ASAN Responds to GOP Debate on Vaccines: Not Better Off Dead Than Disabled

September 17, 2015autism, autistic activists, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, better dead than disabled, debate, Our News & Commentary BlogAutism, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, GOP DebateDiane Coleman

[Editor’s Note: This awesomely strong and timely Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s response to the GOP debate remarks on autism and vaccines is reprinted with permission.] ASAN Statement on GOP Primary Debate Comments on Autism and Vaccination September 16, 2015 Despite a wealth of scientific evidence debunking any link between autism and vaccinations, tonight’s Republican primary … Continue reading ASAN Responds to GOP Debate on Vaccines: Not Better Off Dead Than Disabled →

John Kelly: Urging California Governor Brown to Veto! Veto! Veto!

September 13, 2015assisted suicide, Californians Against Assisted Suicide, dredf, john kelly, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughtsassisted suicide, Californians Against Assisted Suicide, Governor Jerry Brown, John Kelly, Second ThoughtsDiane Coleman

FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE OF THIS POST, GO JOHN KELLY’S SEPT. 19 BLOG! [Editor’s note: By now, most of you know that assisted suicide proponents ramrodded a bill through the California special session convened to work on the state’s Medicaid budget, after the bill was killed in the regular session. Too many legislators chose to … Continue reading John Kelly: Urging California Governor Brown to Veto! Veto! Veto! →

NDY Files Public Comment on CMS Proposal on Advance Care Planning

September 9, 2015"end of life", advance directives, better dead than disabled, death panels, Feeding Tubes, Institute of Medicine, life-ending decisions, life-sustaining treatment, medical decisionmaking, Our News & Commentary Blog, POLST, public commentAdvance Care Planning, advance directives, POLSTDiane Coleman

NDY’s comment letter can be summarized as follows: We do not oppose payment to physicians for advance care planning discussions with their patients, but we want the payment regulation delayed until the disability community and others can, with CMS support, develop new advance care planning informational materials that do not rely on “better dead than … Continue reading NDY Files Public Comment on CMS Proposal on Advance Care Planning →

Coleman Letter to CA Assembly Members Opposing Assisted Suicide Bill; Action Alert

September 8, 2015action alert, assisted suicide, california, Californians Against Assisted Suicide, dredf, john kelly, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughtsassisted suicide, Diane Coleman, Dredf, Second ThoughtsDiane Coleman

Versions of the letter below have gone to various California legislative committees and key members. We are down to the wire, with an Assembly vote possible today, but more likely tomorrow (Wed., Sept. 9th). California is one of the most influential states in the country and it’s unconscionable, after assisted suicide bills were defeated on … Continue reading Coleman Letter to CA Assembly Members Opposing Assisted Suicide Bill; Action Alert →