People With Learning Disabilities Do Not Deserve To Live

[Angela Channing]

Are you shocked by the title of this thread? You should be. I am absolutely fuming with the disgusting UK government who seem to think people with learning disabilities do not have the same right to life as other members of the population.

Our Tory government are rationing healthcare by issuing Do Not Resuscitate orders on people with learning disabilities during the second wave of the pandemic.

Mencap said it had received reports in January from people with learning disabilities that they had been told they would not be resuscitated if they were taken ill with Covid-19.

Edel Harris, Mencap’s chief executive, said: “Throughout the pandemic many people with a learning disability have faced shocking discrimination and obstacles to accessing healthcare, with inappropriate Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) notices put on their files and cuts made to their social care support."

This shouldn't be allowed.

Fury at ‘do not resuscitate’ notices given to Covid patients with learning disabilities

Vulnerable people have encountered ‘shocking discrimination’ during pandemic, says Mencap charity

www.theguardian.com

 

[Grant Jennings]

The same thing is happening here in the U.S., though not widely reported there have been several instances where hospital staffs have had to prioritize care for some patients at the expense of others. Younger and/or healthier patients are given priority over the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. This isn't happening at every hospital or every day but it has happened a few times when hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of patients.

Distribution of vaccinations has also resulted in debates as to who should be a priority. Obese people are at greater risk of death from Covid-19, because of this some have suggested that obese people should be given priority in receiving vaccinations with other arguing this would be "rewarding unhealthy behavior".

 

[Angela Channing]

I'm so incensed by this I just emailed my MP about it. This isn't just about life expectancy as many people with learning disabilities live long and productive lives. What the UK government is saying is if you have a learning disability your life is worth less than everyone else. I consider that to be abhorrent.

 

[Angela Channing]

60% of all Covid deaths in England and Wales are people with disabilities. That is an astonishing figure.

 

[cobbles]

60% of all Covid deaths in England and Wales are people with disabilities. That is an astonishing figure.

I mean it is and it isn't. 21% of people in the UK have a disability.

Many of those with physical disabilities will require physical care putting them in greater contact with others, or live in communal facilities. Many others will require regular hospital admission, and many of these will have intellectual disabilities that make them unable to follow government guidance on social distancing. Older people have a high disability rate, and a more prone to Covid.

It's a horrible figure, but it's really not astonishing.

 

[CeeCee72]

As a mother of a child who is intellectually disabled, this absolutely terrifies me.

I don't know about how the politicians in the UK speak of the learning disabled, but we had four years of a President here in the US that spewed horribly vile rhetoric against "low IQ" individuals. I feel like that helped desensitize people to their humanity.

It's disturbing on every level.

 

[Angela Channing]

As a mother of a child who is intellectually disabled, this absolutely terrifies me.

I don't know about how the politicians in the UK speak of the learning disabled, but we had four years of a President here in the US that spewed horribly vile rhetoric against "low IQ" individuals. I feel like that helped desensitize people to their humanity.

It's disturbing on every level.

I'll never forget that moment when that thing you previously had in the White House was running for the Presidency and he mocked a man because he was living with a a congenital joint condition. I felt sickened.

My nephew has a learning disability and is at high risk and we do everything we can to shield him from contact with others but it's difficult. If doctors following government guidelines ever put him under a do not resuscitate notice we would fight it with every gram of energy we have in our bodies to change that and to protect him but so many disabled people do not have others to be an advocate for them.

It appals me how as a society have not prioritised care for people with disabilities during this period. This was recently highlighted in the UK by radio presenter Jo Whiley who has a sister with a learning disability who is only 2 years younger than her but Jo was prioritised for a vaccine before her sister. It was only her high profile campaign that shamed our government into realising they had to change approach and this week started to prioritise people with disabilities. Sadly, it was too late for the 60% of UK people who have already died of Covid and also had a disability.

 

[Brian Kinney]

Since the 1980's (Aids) I'm not surprised by anything the British Tories come up with. I'm only surprised that they still win elections.

 

[Angela Channing]

Since the 1980's (Aids) I'm not surprised by anything the British Tories come up with. I'm only surprised that they still win elections.

I think it says a lot about the people in the UK that continue to vote for them. We are a selfish society with a lot of people who mostly only care about themselves and the Tories appeal to people with that view.

 

[Frank Underwood]

I think it says a lot about the people in the UK that continue to vote for them. We are a selfish society with a lot of people who mostly only care about themselves and the Tories appeal to people with that view.

That's an interesting take, considering you think Americans should vote for a party that contributes to medical bankruptcies and death by denying them universal healthcare.

If there was a worse party in the UK, you'd probably be defending the Tories right now.

 

[Angela Channing]

That's an interesting take, considering you think Americans should vote for a party that contributes to medical bankruptcies and death by denying them universal healthcare.

If there was a worse party in the UK, you'd probably be defending the Tories right now.

Why do you try to turn every thread to which you contribute into an attack on US Democratic Party?

On your general point, I would never defend the racist, homophobic, English exceptionalist Tory party and I would encourage everyone to use their vote effectively to keep them out of power. I'm happy that many Americans did that to keep Trump out of power.

 

[cobbles]

I think it says a lot about the people in the UK that continue to vote for them. We are a selfish society with a lot of people who mostly only care about themselves and the Tories appeal to people with that view.

There's also a hell of a lot of lifetime scroungers who only vote for Labour because they'll keep their bennies in tact, like most countries the self interest works both ways and it's not really surprising that the resentment works both ways. A fundamental flaw of a two party system is making that narrative so easy despite obvious nuance.

 

[Angela Channing]

There's also a hell of a lot of lifetime scroungers who only vote for Labour because they'll keep their bennies in tact, like most countries the self interest works both ways and it's not really surprising that the resentment works both ways. A fundamental flaw of a two party system is making that narrative so easy despite obvious nuance.

I'd like to push back a bit on what you said as there's no evidence for some of your comments.

I assume by scroungers you mean low income workers who rely on social security to survive. According to research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, at the last general election the Conservatives were more popular with people on low incomes than those with high incomes so how does that fit in with your analysis?

Political parties demonising the most vulnerable people in society gives people of all incomes someone to blame (unjustly) for their plight. Your use of the pejorative term "scroungers" to describe vulnerable people shows that this tactic can reap rewards.

 

[cobbles]

I'd like to push back a bit on what you said as there's no evidence for some of your comments.

I assume by scroungers you mean low income workers who rely on social security to survive. According to research carried out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, at the last general election the Conservatives were more popular with people on low incomes than those with high incomes so how does that fit in with your analysis?

Political parties demonising the most vulnerable people in society gives people of all incomes someone to blame (unjustly) for their plight. Your use of the pejorative term "scroungers" to describe vulnerable people shows that this tactic can reap rewards.

No I have absolutely no issue with low income workers using tax credits to support their low income - those payments helped my single mother to raise me and my family on a modest income. That is entirely justified. That's what the state is there for, by scroungers I mean scroungers - benefit cheats, long term sick and the like and they do exist. Unfortunately I grow up among career benefit claimants who had never worked, had no intention of working and got nice pay-outs from the state for the privilege of not working. The Conservatives are popular with workers on low incomes partly because of their tough stance on no-income workers and career benefits claimants and the raft of changes they've made in the past ten years such as child benefit caps, rolling benefits into universal credit, restructuring disability assessments etc etc.


There's absolutely nothing wrong with the state helping folk, if those folk are willing to help themselves.

 

[Angela Channing]

No I have absolutely no issue with low income workers using tax credits to support their low income - those payments helped my single mother to raise me and my family on a modest income. That is entirely justified. That's what the state is there for, by scroungers I mean scroungers - benefit cheats, long term sick and the like and they do exist. Unfortunately I grow up among career benefit claimants who had never worked, had no intention of working and got nice pay-outs from the state for the privilege of not working. The Conservatives are popular with workers on low incomes partly because of their tough stance on no-income workers and career benefits claimants and the raft of changes they've made in the past ten years such as child benefit caps, rolling benefits into universal credit, restructuring disability assessments etc etc.


There's absolutely nothing wrong with the state helping folk, if those folk are willing to help themselves.

But only 1% of benefits is overpaid due to fraud which compares with 5% which is lost to tax fraud. What the Tories have done is demonise those who have to rely on social security to turn public opinion against them so they can justify introducing harsh policies to that stop this lifeline going to vulnerable people. This cruel approach has lead to tragic stories like this:

A disabled man with a long history of mental illness starved to death just months after welfare officials stopped his out-of-work and housing benefits.

Disabled man starved to death after DWP stopped his benefits

MPs call for inquiry into case of Errol Graham, 57, who weighed 28.5kg when he was found dead

www.theguardian.com

Or this one:

A severely mentally ill young mother died from a deliberate overdose after the removal of her disability benefits left her destitute.

Inquest finds mother took overdose after removal of benefits

Coronor says Philippa Day’s experiences with DWP were ‘predominant factor’ in her decision

www.theguardian.com

Sadly these are not isolated incidents. These are the result of blaming the poor and the vulnerable for societal problems in order to gain an electoral advantage. This is where it started and it has lead to the Tory Government thinking it's acceptable to value the lives of people with learning disabilities less than other members of society.

 

[johnnybear]

The so called government of the UK is a selfish cabal of greedy businessmen rather than a caring group of ministers. These people believe it is okay for people to be forced to work 60 or more hours a week and that any rights you have are okay so long as you never use them! The best thing for them is a noose around their rich, greasy necks!!!! GRRrrrrrr
JB

 

[Angela Channing]

The so called government of the UK is a selfish cabal of greedy businessmen rather than a caring group of ministers. These people believe it is okay for people to be forced to work 60 or more hours a week and that any rights you have are okay so long as you never use them! The best thing for them is a noose around their rich, greasy necks!!!! GRRrrrrrr
JB

The Tories have done many truly evil things but I wouldn't go as far as that.

 

[johnnybear]

I'm sorry if you were offended by my comments, Angela, but they have caused the deaths of quite a few people over their term of 'government' and like all politicians squirm their way out of being punished for their sins and just go back to their indulgent lifestyle with no conscience!
JB

 

[Angela Channing]

I'm sorry if you were offended by my comments, Angela, but they have caused the deaths of quite a few people over their term of 'government' and like all politicians squirm their way out of being punished for their sins and just go back to their indulgent lifestyle with no conscience!
JB

I'm not offended I just thought your comments were a bit extreme but I understand why you feel so strongly against the Tories because of the many truly wicked policies they have forced upon us, the very real damage they have done to our country and how they have hurt so many people, often the most vulnerable.

I think the current Tory government is nasty and corrupt. They have caused the unnecessary deaths of people (I gave a few examples in a previous post) just as sure as if they had put a gun to their heads and fired it. However, the way they seem to be targeting disabled people for some of the harshest of their policies is totally despicable.

 

[johnnybear]

Their attitude is if you don't work now or when you're old then you're of no use to the country! I'd like to see them work in the current climate of tyrannical bosses bullying and threatening your livelihood if you don't work the extra hours! I know it happens because it happened to me years ago and they were not legally allowed to do that or punish me for it so they set me up with a false accusation and I haven't been able to work since! Nice to speak to you though, Angela.
JB