On June 11th, Michael Hickson, a quadriplegic black man with COVID-19 died in an Austin Texas hospital.
What makes this unique is that without consulting the family, the doctors determined that he had no quality of life due to his disability and other medical issues. Because he was not healthy prior to his contracting COVID, the physicians determined that his life was not worth attempting to save.
The following conversation between his doctor and his wife was caught on audio & posted on youtube
Doctor: So as of right now, his quality of life — he doesn’t have much of one.
Melissa: What do you mean? Because he’s paralyzed with a brain injury he doesn’t have quality of life?
Doctor: Correct.
Hickson was refused food or treatment for 6 days
In the YouTube video show at the bottom, the doctor can be heard saying “he will have lines and tubes coming out of his body… That’s not quality-of-life.” It is if they sustain you while your fight a disease.
Apparently my definition & his/the hospital’s definition of quality is vastly different.
We love be in a culture that doesn’t see disabled life as quality despite the fact a quarter of the US population & 22% of the Canadian population are living with a disability in some form of another.
So, for persons with disabilities, this is super scary. Does this mean with my multiple medical issues, I would not be considered ‘on worth’ saving aswell?
With this l MD of attitude in the medical community, us with disabilities have every rightly to be concerned & even afraid.
So, when you see me repeatedly pushing about masks, paying attention to disabled (& elderly for that matter) people, and maintaining social distance I have a very valid & legitimate reason for promoting this issue.
Do Not sweep this under the rug. Your disabled friends are in serious, potential danger. Our lives are at extra risk.
We must unite and fight this!
Fibromyalgia 
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