Category Archives: life-sustaining treatment

Lisa Blumberg: A Classic Case of Lethal Denial of Medical Treatment Based On Disability

ableism, access to health care, death by starvation and dehydration, developmental disabilities, DNR, futility, life-sustaining treatment, Lisa Blumberg, medical neglect, Our News & Commentary Blog, , , , ,

Trisomy 18 is a genetic condition that usually results in physical health problems and cognitive limitations. Life expectancy is currently shorter than typical but people can live into their 20’s and 30’s and one American with trisomy 18, Megan Hayes, celebrated her fortieth birthday with fanfare. Unfortunately, it seems that this information has been slow … Continue reading Lisa Blumberg: A Classic Case of Lethal Denial of Medical Treatment Based On Disability →

Lisa Blumberg: Brain Injured Are Denied Life Sustaining Treatment Too Early

American Academy of Neurology, better dead than disabled, brain injury, health disparities, life-sustaining treatment, Lisa Blumberg, medical discrimination, New York Times, Our News & Commentary Blog, pvs, quality of life judgments, rush to judgment, treatment withdrawal, , , , , ,

  A 2007 Not Dead Yet blog described “rush to judgment” cases where people who had sustained a major brain injury were denied life sustaining treatment before appropriate time had passed to determine if they could become conscious. It referred to an article co-authored by Dr. Joel Frader, now a member of the Northwestern Center … Continue reading Lisa Blumberg: Brain Injured Are Denied Life Sustaining Treatment Too Early →

NDY Comment on Comment on Proposed Texas Futility Regulations

ableism, advance directives, better dead than disabled, ethics committee, futile care, futility, Health care decision-making, life-sustaining treatment, Lisa Blumberg, Our News & Commentary Blog, public comment, quality of life judgments, , , , ,

July 12, 2024 HHS Office of Inspector General – Chief Counsel Division P.O. Box 85200 Austin, Texas 78708 Email: IG_Rules_Comments_Inbox@hhsc.state.tx.us RE: Proposed Regulations published in the June 14, 2024 Texas Register Dear Chief Counsel: Not Dead Yet is a national disability rights organization focused on combatting disability- based healthcare discrimination, particularly in the context of … Continue reading NDY Comment on Comment on Proposed Texas Futility Regulations →

Lisa Blumberg: The 504 Regulations Now Explicitly Prohibit Healthcare Discrimination Based on Disability

better dead than disabled, Health care decision-making, health disparities, HHS, informed consent, life-sustaining treatment, Lisa Blumberg, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, treatment withdrawal, , ,

The updating of the 504 Regulations by the Department of Health and Human Services under the Biden-Harris administration is historic. Various provisions included in the amendment interact and work together to promote equal access to healthcare for persons with disabilities. Not Dead Yet’s response to the  Department’s request for public comment when the updates were … Continue reading Lisa Blumberg: The 504 Regulations Now Explicitly Prohibit Healthcare Discrimination Based on Disability →

NDY Public Comment on HHS/OCR Proposed Section 504 Healthcare Regulations

healthcare rationing, HHS, life-ending decisions, life-sustaining treatment, Lisa Blumberg, Medicaid, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, public comment, Quality Adjusted Life Years, quality of life judgments, suicide prevention, treatment withdrawal, treatment withholding, ,

Not Dead Yet has joined many disability organizations in applauding the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights for proposing critically needed rules to update and amend its Section 504 regulations in the area of healthcare. NDY’s public comment focuses primarily on the Department’s questions concerning medical treatment (Section 84.56), … Continue reading NDY Public Comment on HHS/OCR Proposed Section 504 Healthcare Regulations →