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After reading Elizabeth's post on her blog A Moon Worn As If It Had Been A Shell I was re-directed to another post regarding a child being turned down for a kidney transplant because she was mentally retarded dooming her to certain death. For some reason I can't link to that blog so please go to Elizabeth's blog where you can freely access the post.Who decides societal worth?
Hitler began with the special needs population.
Just thought i should point that out for those of you who were unaware of this fact.
Hitler began with the special needs population.
Just thought i should point that out for those of you who were unaware of this fact.
Reading the comments on Elizabeth's blog I realize that most folks have no idea this kind of discrimination occurs with special needs children and adults. Being in the medical profession I happen to know that this kind of discrimination does exist. Sometimes subtle. Sometimes not.
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You never know where you are gong to encounter "the attitude." I recall the pediatric dentist who we had been going to for years telling me that The Teenager wasn't a candidate for braces although she needed them desperately because, "she wouldn't know any difference anyway."
The Teenager sees her hummer limo for the first time on her 18th birthday
At least his attitude did not condemn my daughter to death like the little girl who needs a kidney transplant but it stung nevertheless.
Then please go here and read this article that was featured on our local news channel on January 13th and happened in Largo, Florida. A friend of mine who has an autistic son posted it on Facebook.
It hit dangerously close to home for my friend.
For those of you who do not know what the Baker Act is, it is an involuntary commitment to a mental health facility for no longer than 72 hours initiated by law enforcement, mental health professionals or members of the medical profession who deem that the individual (in this case a six year old autistic child):
- has a mental illness (as defined in the Baker Act).
- is a harm to self, harm to others, or self neglectful (as defined in the Baker Act).
You ask what is this world coming to?
Don't ask.
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You probably don't want to know.
3 comments:
Fantastic. I felt the same way about the shock and horror expressed by many of the people who learned of Amelia's problem getting a kidney transplant. I would say that it didn't surprise me but that it made me so angry I could hardly see past the anger and get a hold of myself to write anything at all about it.
You know, after I read the article, I got to thinking. Thinking of the more seasoned veteran mom who befriended me some time ago and told me, always try and get you medical provider to NOT write in a Down syndrome diagnosis. I didn't understand then, why she told me that but know now, often the insurance companies deny based only at looking at that. I have experienced that first hand now.
Or how Zoey was denied diapers by one of her supplemental insurances because, heard this from the horses mouth, " She had Down syndrome. We only provide them when there is an expectation of a child becoming trained in using the bathroom on her own." Say what? To which she said, after learning she had CP, well maybe we can authorize then, because that is not a cognition issue. So you are basically saying that the DS makes her too stupid to learn a life skill of potty training and the woman said, I kid you not, yes.
Those are just minor experiences for me compared to what I know goes on but let me tell you, I have seen the faces of many,many doctors around Zoey's bedside over the years and I know, without a shadow of a doubt , what they are thinking about my child. I see it in their eyes. No words are needed. They would be too hurtful to hear. But I know. Trust me I know.
Blankety blank, makes me want to spit. And wish the undeveloped people with those attitudes had to deal with personal hardship so they'd learn that everyone needs help sometimes and no one has the right to deny another's need.
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