Update on Philadelphia Transplant Denial to Girl with Developmental Disabilities

January 31, 2012Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, developmental disabilities, discrimination, organ transplants, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…schhorn). Today – January 31 – the Philadelphia Inquirer reports more good news: The parents of 3-year-old Amelia Rivera, the disabled girl who was initially rejected for a kidney transplant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, now say the hospital is willing to consider such an operation. The Riveras said they met with medical personnel at the hospital for one hour Friday, after which they were given instructions on how to proceed with a possi…

Texas: David Coronado Breathing on His Own, Off Ventilator

February 14, 2009abuse, crime and punishment, david coronado, futile care, Our News & Commentary Blog, Surrogate Decisions & Guardianship, texasStephen Drake

…Texas NDY chapter in any hearings on this matter.) There’s some good news today regarding David Coronado, at least enough to give rise to cautious optimism. David is now breathing on his own – which means that his condition has improved, lessening the threat of moves to end his life by his court-appointed guardian. From the Dallas Morning News: Just last month, attorneys were considering whether to withdraw life support from 7-month-old David Cor…

Update: Minnesota Hospital Agrees to Continue Oxygen for Catie

May 4, 2019futile care, futility, Health care decision-making, life-sustaining treatment, Minnesota, Our News & Commentary Blog, treatment withdrawalfutility, Health care decision making, Minnesota, treatment withdrawalDiane Coleman

…r letting the hospital know of its duties under Minnesota law. We received news today that Fairview Hospital in Edina is fully cooperating with Catie’s health care proxy and that they will continue to provide Catie with oxygen as needed. We are grateful for the work of our Life Legal Minnesota team, especially attorneys Wayne Holstad and Craig Beuning of Holstad and Knaak, who intervened immediately on Catie’s behalf. “Life Legal is pleased that C…

Chicago NDY Confronts Chicago “End of Life” Care Coalition and Barbara Coombs Lee

April 23, 2009"end of life", activism, assisted suicide, barbara coombs lee, final exit network, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality checkStephen Drake

…cietal message is “so what?” or “who cares?” FINAL EXIT NETWORK In late February, the news broke that a multi-state investigation had resulted in the arrests of four members of the Final Exit Network. These “freelancers” and “worker bees” of the assisted suicide movement claim to have aided the suicides of some 200 individuals – many of them nonterminally ill. Two cases under investigation involve a Georgia man distressed over his appearance after…

Dissecting Coverage of Nursing Home Deaths (Part 2)

April 10, 2008homicide, media issues, neglect, nursing homes, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality checkStephen Drake

…patients who are often very sick, very old or very young — and access to drugs powerful enough to kill unobtrusively through an intravenous tube. And they work at institutions with an inherent aversion to litigation and publicity. This is just the tip of iceberg. I know that at least one of the experts in this article, forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland (not quoted in excerpt above), has published a book about serial killers in medical sett…