Category Archives: Our News & Commentary Blog

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Michael Hickson: Disability Organizations Challenge Medical Futility & Surrogate Decisions

ADAPT, bioethics, ethics committee, futile care, futility, Health care decision-making, healthcare rationing, life-ending decisions, life-sustaining treatment, medical discrimination, Michael Hickson, national council on independent living, Our News & Commentary Blog, surrogate decision making, Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship, treatment withdrawal, , , ,

On July 24th, ADAPT of Texas filed a complaint with the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) concerning the death of Michael Hickson, a Black Disabled man, at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. The complaint called for . . . “. . . an investigation of St David’s … Continue reading Michael Hickson: Disability Organizations Challenge Medical Futility & Surrogate Decisions →

NCIL Membership Adopts Resolution Opposing Health Insurers’ Use of QALYs

Our News & Commentary Blog

The membership of the National Council on Independent Living unanimously adopted a Resolution Opposing the Use of QALYs (Quality Adjusted Life Years) in all decisions concerning health care coverage. The Resolution was jointly developed by Not Dead Yet and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network for consideration in conjunction with NCIL’s Annual Conference held virtually beginning … Continue reading NCIL Membership Adopts Resolution Opposing Health Insurers’ Use of QALYs →

Carol Cleigh Sutton: How Deeply Ableist is Mainstream Media?

ableism, better dead than disabled, bioethics, Carol Cleigh Sutton, COVID-19, futility, health disparities, healthcare rationing, media bias, Michael Hickson, Our News & Commentary Blog, , ,

A man named Michael Hickson died on June 11, 2020. He was denied food an fluids for 6 days. He was a Black man. His death occurred in a climate of national discussion about the killing of Black men. His wife, Melissa, has ample evidence that his death was deliberate and was the result of … Continue reading Carol Cleigh Sutton: How Deeply Ableist is Mainstream Media? →

NDY Applauds ADAPT of Texas Demand For Investigation of Michael Hickson’s Death

ADAPT, better dead than disabled, bioethics, brain injury, COVID-19, futility, health disparities, healthcare rationing, medical discrimination, medical killings, Michael Hickson, Our News & Commentary Blog, Press Releases, treatment withholding, , ,

NDY Press Release: ADAPT of Texas has issued an Independence Day announcement that disability advocates are holding a vigil at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center to support the family of Michael Hickson, a 46-year old Black man with disabilities who died after being denied COVID-19 treatment. Not Dead Yet applauds ADAPT of Texas’ demand … Continue reading NDY Applauds ADAPT of Texas Demand For Investigation of Michael Hickson’s Death →

New OCR Settlement On COVID-19 Triage Criteria Increases Disability Protections

bioethics, COVID-19, futility, health disparities, healthcare rationing, HHS, medical discrimination, medical killings, Our News & Commentary Blog, , ,

On June 26, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights issued a press release entitled “OCR Resolves Complaint with Tennessee After it Revises its Triage Plans to Protect Against Disability Discrimination.” A number of state and national disability groups had complained that Tennessee’s crisis standards of care (CSC) “would unlawfully … Continue reading New OCR Settlement On COVID-19 Triage Criteria Increases Disability Protections →