Philadelphia: Young Girl Being Denied Transplant Because Her “Retardation” Doesn’t Make Her “Worthy”

January 14, 2012Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, death through denial, medical bigotry, medical decisionmaking, medical discrimination, organ donation, organ transplants, Our News & Commentary BlogStephen Drake

…ination – in the US medical system. But every once in awhile, a disturbing example comes to light. When we’re lucky, it even comes to light in time for us to do something about it. Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg was the first of several people on Facebook to call this to my attention. Right now, the top article on wolfhirschhorn.org (a website devoted to families of individuals with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome) is titled Brick Walls. The writer has a daught…

Mike Ervin: Ruben Navarro and Rethinking Donation of My Organs

January 27, 2009crime and punishment, mike ervin, NSCIA, organ donation, Our News & Commentary Blog, Ruben NavarroStephen Drake

…vists (like NDY and ADAPT) on cutting-edge issues affecting the disability community. So, without further delay, here is the latest from our friends Mike Ervin and NSCIA: Our Top Story: Doctor Acquitted of Hastening Man’s Death to Obtain Organs By Mike Ervin It was one of those rare moments in life when we are presented with a no-brainer moral decision. I recently had my state ID card renewed. The woman asked me if I wanted it designated on my car…

Dr. Thomas Szasz Dies at Age 92, Critic of Coercion and Psychiatry

September 12, 2012assisted suicide, libertarians, obitiatry, Our News & Commentary Blog, suicide, Thomas SzaszStephen Drake

…raining himself, Dr. Szasz saw psychiatry’s medical foundation as shaky at best, and his book hammered away, placing the discipline “in the company of alchemy and astrology.” Dr. Szasz argued against coercive treatments, like involuntary confinement, and the use of psychiatric diagnoses in the courts, calling both practices unscientific and unethical. He was soon placed in the company of other prominent critics of psychiatry, including the Canadia…

Georgia Disability Activists at Supreme Court Hearing on Assisted Suicide – Press Coverage and More

November 8, 2011assisted suicide, court cases, disability activists, disabled queers in action, dqia, final exit network, Georgia, georgia adapt, media coverage, not dead yet of georgia, Our News & Commentary Blog, silc of georgiaStephen Drake

…n As a disability rights activist, I see many people struggle every day to obtain the basic essentials to live and participate in the community. Because of many economic and attitudinal barriers thrown in people’s way, it’s not unusual for members of our community to experience at least brief periods of despair over what can seem like a never ending struggle. I am very concerned over the “assistance” that members of the Final Exit Network (FEN) ar…

Disability Rights Leadership Institute on Bioethics: Advancing the Disability Rights Perspective on Bioethics Issues

May 2, 2014Amy Hasbrouck, ari ne'eman, ASAN, Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, bill peace, bioethics, Bob Kafka, dredf, Liz Carr, national council on independent living, NDRN, Norm Kunc, Our News & Commentary Blog, Toujours Vivant-Not Dead YetAutistic Self Advocacy Network, bioethics, Diane Coleman, Disability Rights Leadership Institute on Bioethics, Dredf, Liz Carr, Marilyn GoldenDiane Coleman

…steps discussion. We’ll be putting the Power Points and more on the DRLIB conference website in the near future. Perhaps most importantly, everyone committed to further communication, expanded networking, and more DRLIB….