I am appalled as I read an article online regarding a little girl that is in need of a kidney transplant but being denied based on the reason of being mentally retarded. This is like a modern day eugenics and apparently happens more often than one would think! Why on earth would she not be able to have access to life? Her parents are not giving in and they are fighting back - good for them! Read this little girl's mother's blog for details of what happened just a couple weeks ago at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: http://www.wolfhirschhorn.org/2012/01/amelia/brick-walls/As I read this is reminds me of the eugenics history. But in many ways - this is much worse. They are not allowing a family to provide a fair fight to save their daughter's life based on her mental ability. They aren't taking away rights such as ability to create life - they are actually taking away her own chance at life. The hospital is denying a kidney transplant even if the kidney is provided by her own family!!!! It should be illegal to deny any health care based on mental ability. New Jersey senator, Steve Sweeney, has plans to do just that - make it illegal.
The Minaret states, "I don’t think any doctor should be able to determine what someone considers a “good-quality life.” Even though Amelia is at risk to have a much shorter life span than average, if a family member is willing to donate a kidney to extend her life, her disability should not be a factor."
As I write this, over 36,000 people have signed a petition to fight this disgrace: http://www.change.org/petitions/director-of-public-relations-allow-the-kidney-transplant-amelia-rivera-needs-to-survive Please help!
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