(Asbury Park Press)
January 20, 2012
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY– [Excerpt provided by Inclusion Daily Express] State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney said Thursday he'll introduce a bill that would prevent hospitals from discriminating against developmentally disabled people who need organ transplants.
His action came after a South Jersey family allegedly was told their 3-year-old daughter would not be eligible for a kidney transplant at a Philadelphia hospital because of her disability.
Joe and Chrissy Rivera of Stratford plan to meet next week with officials at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where a physician allegedly ruled out a transplant for the girl. Their daughter, Amelia, has a genetic defect that can cause mental and physical disabilities.
In a statement, Sweeney said people with developmental disabilities "should not be treated as second-class citizens. Their disabilities do not make them any less human or worthy of respect and common decency."
In his statement, Sweeney noted the issue is a personal one for him. His daughter, Lauren, has Down syndrome.
Entire article:
Bill targets bias in transplant decisions
http://tinyurl.com/7bp345t
Related:
Sweeney wants to prevent hospitals from denying organ transplants to the disabled (Star-Ledger)
http://tinyurl.com/6wugm28
Young Girl Being Denied Transplant Because Her "Retardation" Doesn't Make Her "Worthy" (Not Dead Yet)
http://tinyurl.com/84g84n5
Planet of the Blind 