As I recall there was a similar case in Alberta maybe five years ago. Any
comments from that quarter? My own spin on this is that if we're to argue
"quality of life" as a basis for allocation of treatment, most
parliamentarians ( congresspeople for Yanks) probably ought to be the first
cull in any triage.
Liz
At 09:09 AM 7/26/99 -0700, you wrote:
>I dont have al the details, partly because of memory gaps, but a member of
>Self Advocates People First in California was turned down for a heart lung
>transplant because of Down s Syndrome and an uproar came fromthe
>disability rights movement because the people who decided had not even MET
>the woman (who by the way is a wonderful advocate) anyway- their argument
>was not life expectancy but her ability to follow the regime of follow up
>necessary to keep the transplants without rejection ( how well could she
>follow instructions) anyway, needless to say she is alive and well and
>living with brand new heart and lung and another victory for disability
>rights, im sure someone on the list fromCalifornia can give you the name
>and case citation but it was the media that made it work- it portrayed her
>and her friends as competent, contributing citizens, not as helpless,
>hopeless disabled useless eaters. Its a big deal and we WON, I hope
>this will help your case in some way although I dont know the child
>involved. Tanis
>
>pls send attachments to [log in to unmask] not to this email thanks.
>
>On Mon, 26 Jul 1999, Michael Peckitt wrote:
>
>> For your attention:-
>>
>> I have just read in the paper today that the family of 9 year old girl
with
>> Down's Syndrome from Sheffiled, Britain will not be considered for a heart
>> transplant.
>>
>> >From the Daily Telegraph
>>
>> "Leeds General Infirmary told them [the family] that their daughter would
>> not be considered for heart surgery because of her disability"
>>
>> "consultants believed that refering children with Down's syndrome could
give
>> 'false hope'" as people with Down's syndrome generally do not have a long
>> life expetancy and there are a shortage of heart.
>>
>> The Down Syndrome Association stated:-
>>
>> "A lot of medical professionals think peole with Down's syndrome aren't
>> worth putting the effort in for,.....Their argument is that people with
Down
>> syndrome don't have the same quallity of life, but they are not informed
>> enough to make that decision."
>>
>> Mencap also responded claiming it"confirms discrimination".
>>
>> I have very mixed and troubed feelings about this coming from a medical
>> family (though I am not a doctor myself), and can thus see their point and
>> as a person with a disability. Any views?
>>
>> Thank you for your time
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________
>> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>>
>
>
Elizabeth Bredberg, PhD
Department of Educational Counselling and Psychology and Special Education
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
Phone: 604-822-4589
Fax: 604-822-3302
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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