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The Misguided Notion That Life with a Disability Isn’t Worth Living

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I’ve always admired the lone individual who has the courage to say something when no one else can, and that certain someone is Richard Senelick, a writer whose article yesterday in The Atlantic, Reconciling Life and Quadriplegia, touched on a subject that’s been bugging me since it was the subject of much controversy in a hunting accident last month.

It all began when a hunter from Indiana, Tim Bowers, fell from his tree stand while hunting in early November. He broke his neck and was rushed to the hospital for acute care. He had to be on a ventilator for the time being, as his injury was rather severe, but instead of waiting to see how much function he may have recovered, which can take up to 2 years after an injury like his, he opted instead for suicide, telling his family he’d rather die than live the way he was.

Yes I know, let the rage flood in. It’s seems as though Tim and fam weren’t properly educated on what may happen to newly injured people. There is still so much hope within the first two years. Nerve re-growth can actually happen, especially if his spinal cord wasn’t torn.Tim Bowers however wasn’t at all interested in seeing if his luck may turn his way.

When I first found out about Tim’s injury and subsequent suicide story, I was not happy. Whenever you see medical personnel condoning such an act, you see red flags. No one should ever assume someone with a severe spinal cord injury would rather be dead than alive, but most people who are able-bodied assume this, even medical personnel. All should be leaving their bias at the door instead.

The Atlantic is one of the most beloved and renowned publications in the United States too, so it’s no wonder they dove in and profiled this sensitive subject. Founded over 150 years ago in Boston, The Atlantic has always been known for publishing articles on important topics that influence society – abolition, education, and other contemporary political affairs.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow have all appeared in The Atlantic. This is why I was so happy to see an article on a topic that’s so near to my heart – the “real deal” on the quality of life after spinal cord injury – was featured. Hopefully more people will read it, and begin to change their viewpoints forthwith. If not, it’s a great read by a great writer.

The point he made in the piece is this – Tim wasn’t properly given a chance to really think things through. He was heavily drugged, then lightly brought back to consciousness just enough to ask if he’d like to live or die. Did he really know what he was answering?

The article also brought up another important point – the bias of medical personnel influencing how they interact with family and invariably putting their own personal opinion on things. Not cool.

There was a study conducted not too long ago that found most people would rather die than live with a spinal cord injury, even doctors and nurses think these things in secret. They shouldn’t be blamed for thinking these things, but they shouldn’t let their opinion on the matter influence what they tell family and friends of the newly injured.

You have no idea “what’s worth living” until you’re in the reality yourself.

What would you tell someone with a new injury?

Photo courtesy of Steve Greer

The post The Misguided Notion That Life with a Disability Isn’t Worth Living appeared first on EasyStand Blog.


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