Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

Disability Rights Victory in Organ Procurement Protocols – Persistence Pays Off

This week, November 11, the Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) adopted a policy that removed two major threats to people with disabilities posed by previous proposals.  This is the key paragraph: 2.8  Requirements for Controlled Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) Protocols Introduction:  Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) describes the … Continue reading Disability Rights Victory in Organ Procurement Protocols – Persistence Pays Off

John Kelly’s Response to IOM Online Survey or “We Love Our Tubes!”

[Editor’s Note:  In my full written comments on POLST submitted to the IOM Committee in July, I mentioned, “One advocate I know suggested that we need a disability educational campaign called ‘We Love Our Tubes’ or ‘Tube Pride.’”  That advocate was John Kelly.  Here, he tells more of his story to the Committee, responding to Question … Continue reading John Kelly’s Response to IOM Online Survey or “We Love Our Tubes!”

Meet our New Regional Director, John Kelly

  [Editor’s Note:  John Kelly officially began working for NDY as a Regional Director on September 23.  We issued a press announcement on that occasion, but here’s a chance to get to know John better.] Hello everyone, I want to introduce myself to the far-flung faithful readers of this blog and all the supporters of … Continue reading Meet our New Regional Director, John Kelly

Arizona Daily Star: Derek Humphry and Columnist Push “New Frontier” on Assisted Suicide

I have to preface this article with an admission.  I had a lot to do with how this article turned out.  Columnist Tim Steller called Diane Coleman Friday (Nov 1) afternoon wanting to interview her about an upcoming visit to the area by Derek Humphry, who would apparently be talking about assisted suicide for people … Continue reading Arizona Daily Star: Derek Humphry and Columnist Push “New Frontier” on Assisted Suicide

Last Day to Submit Input to IOM Committee on Approaching Death – Personal Story

Today, November 1st, is the last day to provide input to the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Approaching Death via their online survey, the subject of a previous blog.  Yesterday I took the opportunity to submit the following personal story involving some disturbing communications from medical professionals a couple years ago when I had some … Continue reading Last Day to Submit Input to IOM Committee on Approaching Death – Personal Story