As the Threat of Triage Grows, Disability Rights Advocacy Is Needed More Than Ever

April 6, 2020bioethics, COVID-19, death panels, healthcare rationing, HHS, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary BlogCOVID-19, Dredf, healthcare rationingDiane Coleman

…to hospital discharge) is used to determine patients’ prognoses for hospital survival.” The second factor is “the presence of conditions in such an advanced state that life expectancy is very limited” {less than 1 year or less than 5 years), which is used to characterize patients’ longer-term prognosis. This does not inspire confidence in the policy’s objectivity. It provides for the kind of blatant discrimination that worries many of us (see, e….

Art Caplan “Debunks” 23-year Misdiagnosis of PVS in Belgium, But Omits Some Details

November 25, 2009Art Caplan, bioethics, locked-in syndrome, media coverage, Our News & Commentary Blog, pvs, rom houben, steven laureysStephen Drake

…re with his ability to think unrecognized. That’s exactly the experience reported by Julia Tavalaro, who went on to write a book about the experience titled “Look Up For Yes.” As for me, I have lots of thoughts and questions. I’d love to know if they’re trying to develop a more independent communication method for Houben, such as with an eye-pointing system. I’d love to know, for his own welfare, if they’re using his independent yes/no periodicall…

We’ve Lost A Strong and Gentle Warrior Hero – Bob Liston

May 8, 2019assisted suicide, Bob Liston, Kevorkian, michigan, Our News & Commentary BlogADAPT, Bob Liston, Marsha KatzDiane Coleman

…le teenager” (auto accident.) He has used a wheelchair since 1971. Bob has also been a small business owner, and worked for the Montana state government in several capacities, one as the staff person to Montana’s “Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped” in the early ’80’s. Bob has been involved with several Independent Living Centers in Montana as a peer, board member, board president and consultant. He also served two terms on the…

NY Times: Montana Court to Rule on Assisted Suicide Case (NDY Quoted)

September 1, 2009assisted suicide, Bob Liston, court decisions, media coverage, Montana, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…ch lives, the population density is about one person per square mile. Minimal health care is hours away. “Before we deal with assisted suicide, we should make sure first and foremost that everybody has equal access,” said Ms. French, a Democratic state legislator who opposes an expansion of death rights. “It is not simply whether everyone has a right to choose; it’s whether they are given all the choices.” More news as it develops over the coming…

Oregon State Assisted Suicide Reports Substantiate Critics’ Concerns

October 4, 2016"death with dignity", aid in dying, assisted suicide, dredf, elder abuse, Oregon Assisted Suicide Data, Our News & Commentary Blogaid in dying, assisted suicide, death with dignity, Oregon Assisted Suicide DataDiane Coleman

…est for a lethal prescription and death. This is on page 7 of the 2015 annual report. In 2015, at least one person lived 517 days; across all years, the longest reported duration between the request for assisted suicide and death was 1009 days. In every year except the first year, the reported upper range is significantly longer than 180 days. The definition of “terminal” in the statute only requires that the doctor predict that the person will di…