NDY President Diane Coleman Submits Comments on Futile Care Policies to National Council on Disability

April 22, 2013diane coleman, futile care, futility, national council on disability, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…Before the National Council on Disability – April 22, 2013 I’m commenting today to urge NCD to take a leadership position in addressing the problem of so-called futile care laws and policies which allow doctors to deny life-sustaining treatment to people with disabilities who want and need it. The common thread running through stories we hear is that our lives with disability are seen as less worth living, so much less that health care providers…

ABC’s GMA Helps Author Promote Memoir and Assisted Suicide

February 4, 2009assisted suicide, Homicide / 'Mercy Killing', media coverage, media issues, Oregon, Our News & Commentary Blog, reality checkStephen Drake

…ssibility,” West said in an interview that aired on “Good Morning America” today. “The statute of limitations for assisted suicide has run [out] but the prosecutors can charge you with just about anything. There is no statute of limitation for murder, for manslaughter, probably certain drug offenses.” Nice drama, there, but as I noted before, it’s doubtful that anyone could prove these deaths were suicides or homicides at this stage, even if law e…

ADAPT Visited Congress Yesterday – 50 Arrested

September 17, 2008activism, ADAPT, advocacy, Our News & Commentary Blog, policy, politicsStephen Drake

…and other institutions. He repeated that promise for months, and we kept trusting his word, and then one day he suddenly says he can’t help us. We were also working with him to get funding that pays for segregated housing redirected to support integrated housing and more vouchers. Sen. Frank arranged a hearing on this funding, and not only did he not invite any people with disabilities to testify, he didn’t even notify us about the hearing. So, t…

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…

NY Times Quotes Diane Coleman – but without context

August 20, 2009"end of life", advance directives, diane coleman, hospice, media coverage, media issues, Our News & Commentary Blog, palliative careStephen Drake

…ists, who have made death their life’s work. They study how to deliver bad news, and they do it again and again. They know secrets like who, as a rule, takes it better. They know who is more likely to suffer silently, and when is the best time to suggest a do-not-resuscitate order. Palliative care has become a recognized subspecialty, with fellowships, hospital departments and medical school courses aimed at managing patients’ last months. It has…