Tag Archives: Lisa Blumberg

When Disaster Strikes Everyone, the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Is There for Us

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By Lisa Blumberg In a widespread disaster grievously impacting people in general, people who happen to have disabilities tend to be invisible. This may partly stem from the “better dead than disabled” ethos. If a disability is considered to irretrievably diminish the quality and value of your life, why be concerned about other problems could … Continue reading When Disaster Strikes Everyone, the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies Is There for Us →

Lisa Blumberg: A Classic Case of Lethal Denial of Medical Treatment Based On Disability

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Trisomy 18 is a genetic condition that usually results in physical health problems and cognitive limitations. Life expectancy is currently shorter than typical but people can live into their 20’s and 30’s and one American with trisomy 18, Megan Hayes, celebrated her fortieth birthday with fanfare. Unfortunately, it seems that this information has been slow … Continue reading Lisa Blumberg: A Classic Case of Lethal Denial of Medical Treatment Based On Disability →

Assisted Suicide Laws Based On the Oregon Model Sweep In Disabled People

"death with dignity", aid in dying, Anorexia Nervosa, assisted suicide, barbara coombs lee, better dead than disabled, Compassion & Choices, health disparities, Lisa Blumberg, Our News & Commentary Blog, Vincenzo Piscopo, , , , ,

By Lisa Blumberg, JD In 2014, in connection with whether assisted suicide laws would ever be expanded to include people with cognitive  decline, Barbara Coombs Lee, then director of Compassion & Choices, said, “It is an issue for another day but is no less compelling.” This was a momentary slip. The political strategy of Compassion … Continue reading Assisted Suicide Laws Based On the Oregon Model Sweep In Disabled People →

A Watershed Moment: NIH Designates Disabled People as a Health Disparity Population

ableism, access to health care, better dead than disabled, health disparities, Lisa Blumberg, medical discrimination, Our News & Commentary Blog, ,

By Lisa Blumberg, JD In late 2023, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities for research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that NIMHD now recognizes that people with disabilities as a group experience significant disparities in their rates of … Continue reading A Watershed Moment: NIH Designates Disabled People as a Health Disparity Population →

Lisa Blumberg: Whether Suicide Can Be Rational Is the Wrong Question

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In the article “Rational Suicide in Later Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature” in the National Library of Medicine, the authors reviewed 23 studies on “rational suicide” with the stated aim of better understanding the concept of rational suicide in older adults. The piece defines rational suicide as “a sane, well-thought-out and fairly stable … Continue reading Lisa Blumberg: Whether Suicide Can Be Rational Is the Wrong Question →