On September 14, 2012, NCIL Executive Director Kelly Buckland, along with other representatives of the National Disability Leadership Alliance, a national coalition of consumer-controlled organizations, met with the HHS Division on Transplantation.
NCIL stands firmly against discrimination in organ transplants, which are often denied based solely on disability, and discrimination in organ procurement practices, which may soon allow organ procurement to be discussed prior to the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment from some persons with disabilities.
Also in attendance at the meeting were ASAN President Ari Ne’eman and Not Dead Yet President Diane Coleman. The NDLA representatives urged HHS to “issue strong and unequivocal legal guidance” on these issues. NCIL will continue to advocate strongly against policies that have recently resulted in clear cases of disability discrimination in life or death situations.
