Disability

Is intellectual disability a reason to deny an organ transplant?

Michael Cook | 18 January 2012

A 3-year-old girl who was allegedly denied an opportunity for a kidney transplant because she was “mentally retarded” has sparked a debate in the US media. Amelia Rivera has a rare genetic disease known as Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome that can cause mental impairment, seizures and kidney failure. However, her parents were told by doctors at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia that there would be no transplant.

Mentally challenged can be “walking targets”

Jared Yee | 27 October 2011

A horrifying story from Philadelphia has brought to light the complexity of the issue of autonomy. Paroled murderer Linda Ann Weston dragged several mentally challenged adults along to Social Security offices to sign off as their representative payee – someone who helps manage their monthly benefits of between US$600 and $900, authorities say.

“Fixed” – new documentary on transhumanism and disability

Jared Yee | 24 August 2011

Filmmaker Regan Brashear recently screened a rough cut of “Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement”.

UK woman could be forcibly sterilised

Michael Cook | 19 February 2011

A secret UK court is studying whether it should authorise the compulsory sterilisation of a 21-year-old woman.

Belgian court approves “wrongful life”

Michael Cook | 03 December 2010

Abortion law assumes the concepts, it argues

Sniff detector” could allow locked-in patients to communicate by breathing

Jared Yee | 07 August 2010

Sniffs are a “good, fast trigger”

Legalising assisted suicide threatens us, say disability advocates

Michael Cook | 08 January 2010

Special issue of Disability and Health Journal