Press Release: Not Dead Yet Joins Anti-Discrimination Lawsuit To Oppose Assisted Suicide Law

April 26, 2023"death with dignity", aid in dying, assisted suicide, court cases, end-of-life options bills, health disparities, MAID, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blogaid in dying, assisted suicide, court cases, end of life options, Not Dead Yet, United Spinal AssnDiane Coleman

…uble standard based on health status violates the ADA. Those words are as true today as they were then. Assisted suicide data continue to show that unmet disability-related needs are at the heart of requests for assisted suicide, with inadequate supports leading to feelings of losing autonomy and being a burden. “This lawsuit is our fight against a society and insurance industry that tells too many of us to hurry up and die,” Coleman says. “For al…

Cathy Ludlum’s Letter Published: Crossing the Line on Assisted Suicide

May 2, 2021"death with dignity", aid in dying, assisted suicide, Cathy Ludlum, Connecticut, end-of-life options bills, letters to the editor, Our News & Commentary Blog, Second Thoughts Connecticutassisted suicide, Cathy Ludlum, end of life options, Letter to the EditorDiane Coleman

…ough difficult last days? Third, isn’t decency mingled with integrity and truth? HB 6425 fails in part because it would have required falsification of the death certificate, did not prohibit an heir from witnessing the prescription request, and did not sufficiently limit the definition of “terminal illness.” These are flaws in the bill itself, identified by opponents in a discussion of policy. These concerns do not come from political or religious…

Minneapolis Star Tribune Publishes John Kelly’s Excellent Letter

October 7, 2019"death with dignity", aid in dying, assisted suicide, elder abuse, john kelly, Minnesota, Our News & Commentary Blogaid in dying, assisted suicide, death with dignity, John Kelly, MinnesotaDiane Coleman

…ically, there are people who would be alive today but for their misplaced trust in a doctor’s prediction. Jacobsen cites the absence of disability abuse reports from state protection and advocacy agencies, but abuse gets easily buried. For example, Oregonian Wendy Melcher’s death in 2007 at the hands of two nurses was suppressed by the state nursing board. Elder abuse is rampant. Safeguards end after drugs get dispensed and, because no witness is…

Anita Cameron Testified At “People’s Hearing” for In-Home Services

October 29, 2020ADAPT, Affordable Care Act, Anita Cameron, COVID-19, health disparities, long term services and supports, medical discrimination, Michael Hickson, Our News & Commentary Blog, TestimonyADAPT, Anita Cameron, medical discrimination, Michael Hickson, racial disparitiesDiane Coleman

…ve been going through all kinds of hospitalizations, doctor’s visits. Even today, I spent pretty much the entire afternoon at the doctors, for severe health issues that I’m going through. I have all kinds of preexisting conditions. If it were not for the Affordable Care Act, I wouldn’t have my insurance. I wouldn’t be able to see the doctors that I’m seeing now and we need this. And we need. Look, it’s bad enough. If we get rid of the Affordable C…

Lisa Blumberg Published in Newsweek: Assisted Suicide Laws Violate the ADA

September 11, 2023aid in dying, Americans with Disabilities Act, assisted suicide, court cases, end-of-life options bills, health disparities, Lisa Blumberg, Newsweek, op-ed, Our News & Commentary Blogassisted suicide, end of life options, Lisa Blumberg, op-edDiane Coleman

…t disabilities that would be fatal without medical management. Both have struggled to get medical care and in-home support. They believe they have encountered discrimination in hospitals due to their disabilities, and in VanHook’s case, also for being Black. Both have heard suggestions that their quality of life is unacceptable. Tischer describes a doctor’s refusal to get her into rehabilitation after pneumonia as a “solid gut punch.” Both have ha…