Category Archives: health disparities

Not Dead Yet Condemns Lawsuit Attacking Community Living

ableism, abuse, action alert, ADAPT, Administration on Community Living, civil rights, Community Integration Act, court cases, court decisions, courts, devaluation, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, discrimination, eugenics, health disparities, HHS, Our News & Commentary Blog, ,

Not Dead Yet (NDY) writes to express our strong opposition to the lawsuit Texas v. Kennedy and its goals. Texas and nine other states (Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, and South Dakota) have decided to spend taxpayer dollars undermining people with disabilities’ right to community living. Members of the independent living movement founded … Continue reading Not Dead Yet Condemns Lawsuit Attacking Community Living →

Diane Coleman’s Last Review: Life After: “A wonderful film.”

ableism, access to health care, assisted suicide, diane coleman, documentary, health disparities, medical killings, Michael Hickson, Not Dead Yet, Our News & Commentary Blog

    To the best of my knowledge, one of the last tasks Founder, President and CEO of Not Dead Yet (NDY), Diane Coleman completed, days before her sudden passing last November, was to watch Reid Davenport’s Life After. Diane intended to write a fulsome review. And although she could not publish her thoughts in … Continue reading Diane Coleman’s Last Review: Life After: “A wonderful film.” →

Pam Heavens: Do not support legalizing physician-assisted suicide

assisted suicide, better dead than disabled, health disparities, Illinois, letters to the editor, million dollar baby, Our News & Commentary Blog, , , ,

The Times Weekly published this opinion letter by Illinois disability advocate Pam Heavens on October 2nd: The Illinois General Assembly is considering a bill that will legalize physician-assisted suicide. I am a 68-year-old Disabled woman and proud member of “Stop Assisted Suicide Illinois Coalition”, which vehemently opposes this bill. This organization includes representatives from diverse … Continue reading Pam Heavens: Do not support legalizing physician-assisted suicide →

Jensen Caraballo: The Misguided Compassion of Assisted Suicide in Disability

ableism, access to health care, assisted suicide, disability, health disparities, long term services and supports, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, quality of life judgments, , ,

Introduction Assisted suicide is often presented as a compassionate choice for those experiencing unbearable suffering. However, as someone who has navigated life’s challenges as a disability rights advocate and someone who was once confined to a nursing home, I see a troubling oversight in this narrative. It fails to consider the systemic barriers that prevent … Continue reading Jensen Caraballo: The Misguided Compassion of Assisted Suicide in Disability →

Anita Cameron: I Still Wouldn’t Want Assisted Suicide

Anita Cameron, assisted suicide, duty to die, health disparities, MAID, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, Pain treatment/management, palliative care, , ,

Two weeks ago I went to the ER in extreme pain. Normally, I live with level ten pain. I’ve gotten used to it. In a flare, I’ve learned not to moan or cry out. But this pain, which started out as a small annoyance, spread and went down my spine, then, into my chest and … Continue reading Anita Cameron: I Still Wouldn’t Want Assisted Suicide →