Consciousness, Conflations, and Disability Rights: Denials of Care for Children in the "Minimally Conscious State". Issue 1 (2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fins, Joseph J.
• Editors: Goodwin, Michele; Lynch, Holly Fernandez
• Is Part Of: Journal of law, medicine & ethics. Volume 50:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 181
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2022
• Subjects: Disorders of Consciousness -- Minimally Conscious State -- Pediatric Neurology -- Access to Care -- Disability Law; Medical laws and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; Jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Legislation, Medical -- Periodicals; Legislation, Nursing -- Periodicals; Ethics -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Societies -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Law and legislation; Medical ethics; Medical laws and legislation; United States; Periodicals; 344.73041
• DOI: 10.1017/jme.2022.22
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-1105

Abstract

Abstract: This essay critiques the fiercely utilitarian allocation scheme of Cameron et al. Children have no hope of recovery if their lives are cut short based on administrative protocols that misrepresent the nature of their conditions. Unilateral futility judgements - especially those based on a false predicate - are discriminatory. When considering the best interests of children, we should see possibility in disability and not advance ill-informed utilitarianism.