Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

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Second Thoughts Press Release On Continuing Danger of Massachusetts Assisted Suicide Bill

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For Immediate Release:                                  June 2, 2020 Contact: John B. Kelly 617-952-3302, SecondThoughtsKelly@Gmail.com, @2ndThoughtsMA Bill Legalizing Assisted Suicide Remains Dangerous, Targets the Vulnerable Second Thoughts Massachusetts issues the following statement in opposition to the favorable report given by the state … Continue reading Second Thoughts Press Release On Continuing Danger of Massachusetts Assisted Suicide Bill →

NDY Files Comment Against Proposed CMS Rule Changes That Would Put More People In Nursing “Homes”

COVID-19, HHS, long term care, long term services and supports, Medicaid, national disability rights network, NDRN, nursing homes, Our News & Commentary Blog, Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, public comment, , , ,

Thanks to the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies for alerting disability advocates to proposed federal rule changes that would make it easier to put disabled people of all ages into nursing “homes” and other facilities, as well as make it harder for them to move back out to the community. The deadline for comments is … Continue reading NDY Files Comment Against Proposed CMS Rule Changes That Would Put More People In Nursing “Homes” →

W. Carol Cleigh letter: Hasty Re-Opening Will “Sacrifice the Weak for the Wealthy”

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NDY member Carol Cleigh’s timely and pointed letter below will appear in her local North Carolina paper, Clay County Progress: For those who are advocating for lifting of restrictions due to Covid-19 before or without considering the WHO criteria for safely lifting those restrictions, please understand that you’re asking for a devil’s bargain. What you, … Continue reading W. Carol Cleigh letter: Hasty Re-Opening Will “Sacrifice the Weak for the Wealthy” →

John Kelly: Testimony to Boston City Council Opposing Triage Based On 5-Year Survival Predictions

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The following is expanded from remarks prepared for oral testimony at the April 22 hearing. I am adding information from the hearing testimony of the Massachusetts Coalition on Health Equity. Additional information is drawn from the Bay State Banner article on the hearing. A hearing on the proposed guidelines for ventilator distribution and ICU beds … Continue reading John Kelly: Testimony to Boston City Council Opposing Triage Based On 5-Year Survival Predictions →

Lisa Blumberg – Medical Rationing: When Disability Bias Hides Behind A Magical “Invisibility” Cloak

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Among the rationing plans being discussed to respond to the strain the surge in coronavirus cases is expected to place on the capabilities of hospitals in some cases, the Pittsburgh Model Plan Regarding the Allocation of Scarce Critical Care Resources during a Public Health Emergency (1) is being given the most play. The Plan would … Continue reading Lisa Blumberg – Medical Rationing: When Disability Bias Hides Behind A Magical “Invisibility” Cloak →