On June 11th, Michael Hickson, a quadriplegic black man with COVID-19 was killed by a hospital in Austin Texas.
Doctors decided he had "no quality of life" and was not worth spending the resources to save.
The conversation between his doctor and his wife was caught on audio 1/?
Doctors decided he had "no quality of life" and was not worth spending the resources to save.
The conversation between his doctor and his wife was caught on audio 1/?
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.
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Hickson was refused food or treatment for 6 days
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
I've been stewing on this for a few days as I try to come up with the right words to explain to you how much of an underlying fear this scenario is for much of the disabled community.
We live our entire lives in fear that one day a doctor will decide we just aren't worth it.
We live our entire lives in fear that one day a doctor will decide we just aren't worth it.
I know this isn't what you want on your timeline. You want me to talk about games or advocate disability stuff.
But it's hard knowing that one day all the followers or contacts won't save me or disabled people I love from a doctor deciding disabled life isn't a good quality life
But it's hard knowing that one day all the followers or contacts won't save me or disabled people I love from a doctor deciding disabled life isn't a good quality life
In the YouTube video, the doctor can be heard saying "he will have lines and tubes coming out of his body... That's not a quality-of-life"
I have tubes coming out of my body. I happen to like my life. Without those tubes I'd be dead
Our definition of quality is vastly different
I have tubes coming out of my body. I happen to like my life. Without those tubes I'd be dead
Our definition of quality is vastly different
So, when you see me repeatedly yelling about masks, paying attention to disabled people, and you don't understand why I tweet with passion, remember this.
I'm fighting to change culture that doesn't see disabled life as quality. Many of us are afraid and rightfully so.
I'm fighting to change culture that doesn't see disabled life as quality. Many of us are afraid and rightfully so.
Final note: I apologize to anyone triggered by this. Please understand social media pressure is my greatest tool. Many people will look away given the option. But Michael deserved better, and those of us still fighting deserve better.
See disabled people. See our fight. Help us
See disabled people. See our fight. Help us
Keep seeing this in response to Michael Hickson's murder. It's a fair question but it's one that our society is not ready to admit to ourselves:
Society does not treat disabled people as equals. It's harder to get attention on these issues, but that's why I use my platform
Society does not treat disabled people as equals. It's harder to get attention on these issues, but that's why I use my platform
