Discrimination against people with disabilities when rationing COVID-19 treatment remains a grave concern. Thankfully, on March 28, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
issued a bulletin stating that “Persons with disabilities...should not be put at the end of the line for health services during emergencies. Our civil rights laws protect the equal dignity of every human life from ruthless utilitarianism.”
NAELA signed onto a document from organizations with expertise in federal disability rights laws that provides a more detailed explanation of how the requirements set forth in the HHS Bulletin would apply and how states and health care providers can take steps to modify policies and practices to avoid disability discrimination.
Read the document.