Beneath the Wings: He Was Killed Because He Was Fat?

Saturday, February 18, 2012

He Was Killed Because He Was Fat?

I was reading on shabbas about the “Mercy Killings” in New Orleans during the Katrina Hurricane. I noted that one of those killed was DEFINITELY not terminal, and did not have a DRN order. Instead, he repeatedly implored the staff to not leave him behind.

But he was among those murdered. Because he was too heavy to move easily. I can only wonder how much the decision to kill him (for “mercy”) had to do with the prejudice which our society has against overweight people, and the view that those who are not independent have lives “not worth living”.

UPDATE: Please see comments

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: I didn't see the article, but was he murdered, or were they unable to save him?; February 19, 2012 at 6:53 PM
rickismom said...: I stand corrected (by my Mom)- the article I read was not entirely correct, and apparently there is still doubt about whether patients in the hospital in New Orleans were intentionally killed.
Mr. Everest was very heavy, and there was doubt that he could be saved. But the article claims that rescue workers said later that had they known about his case, they would have tried to get him out of the hospital.
[It is, of course, always easy to say such afterwards.] I pray as a nurse to never be in such a situation as this staff found themselves.; February 20, 2012 at 12:13 AM

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A description of this blog

This blog is basically a diary, journal, and notes of observations. In the past it dealt mostly with the topics of special needs, especially a real view of what life is like with (and for) a teen with Down syndrome. However, since Ricki's death in August 2012, at age 17, the amount of blogging on the subject of "special needs" has decreased. Additional topics are interpersonal relationships, life in Israel, and dieting. (I have lost 75 kilos...)(And no, I did NOT have weight-loss surgery....) Also an occasional get-on-a-soapbox-and-tell-it-like-it-is personal opinion.