Most deaths of a disabled person, even if they die extremely young, will purposefully not be criminally investigated. — Michael CareyDELMAR, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, September 6, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Where are the authorities and why the lack of taking actions as thousands of disabled children and adults with disabilities die annually in New York State's extremely dangerous and deadly mental health care system? There is a societal problem that can no longer be ignored and it is called discrimination against people with disabilities. People with disabilities, especially those living outside of their family home are being treated as far lower class people as evidenced in many ways. This press release will zero in specifically on deaths and how an untimely or suspicious death of a disabled person living in New York State and I believe many other States as well are handled dramatically differently than a death of what many would call a ''normal'' person.
For a ''normal'' person in society, one that is not deemed disabled in some manner, if they die in an untimely or suspicious manner 911 would be immediately called, local police and emergency medical personnel would first swiftly respond. If there was any chance for resuscitating the person both the police or emergency medical personnel, whoever showed up first, would be catapulted into action. After CPR, facts, information, testimony and evidence would swiftly be obtained to determine if a possible crime or homicide occurred. A Medical Examiner or Coroner would be called and would show up swiftly and they would also do their job, which would include seeking evidence and testimony from witnesses and doing a written report, taking possession of the body before leaving the scene with the body. Any untimely or suspicious death there would be an autopsy to try to determine the genuine cause of death, not so in most cases for the disabled.
The vast majority of deaths of a disabled person living in a State or private facility or group homes are treated completely differently. There is an overwhelming difference in how deaths are handled and the reason is that people with disabilities are considered by many to be the bottom of the barrel, some of the lowest of society. This is obviously not true; people with disabilities are precious people. What is going on is no different than the horrific discrimination against African Americans that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exposed and fought against. The discrimination and civil rights violations are the same, but against another large group of people. When people with disabilities are treated differently and unequally even when they die they are without question victims of discrimination.
To lay out the case in one egregious area of discrimination the truth must come out into the light. This is how most deaths of the disabled that live outside of their family home in residential care facilities and group homes are currently handled, hard to fathom, but in most cases 911 will never be called. The reason for this is extremely disturbing, but true, there is a much greater concern in most cases about a possible justified lawsuit because of negligent care than the disabled person's safety and life. New York State directs mandated reporters within these facilities and group homes to call a hotline that they operate instead of 911. How does the disabled person have a chance to be revived by local professional first responders if they are not notified immediately or never notified? The answer is in most cases they have no chance like any average or ''normal'' citizen would. Can you imagine the State of New York, through a hotline operated by them directing provider agencies and group home operators to investigate the deaths, in many cases of a person dying extremely young, occurring in their own facility or group home? This insanity and discrimination is happening all the time in New York State as 11-12 people with disabilities are dying on average daily in a system that has never been reformed to be made safe. Information obtained through Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) from State and County authorities reveal a distinct pattern that most deaths of the disabled will not even be reported to County District Attorney's or Medical Examiners or Coroners. So what is happening with most of these deaths regarding ''this specific group of people''? The answer is that the State of New York is treating the disabled differently even when they die suspiciously and are allowing their own or sub-contracted provider agencies to have their own doctors sign off on death certificates. Most deaths of a disabled person, even if they die extremely young, will purposefully not be criminally investigated. Large percentages of deaths of people with disabilities will be treated as nothing and facilities gladly allow their doctors to quickly dispose of possible multi-million dollar problems with the State's blessing. Instead of an autopsy most people with disabilities that have died in a facilities or group home goes directly to the funeral home and the true cause of death never determined. The gross unequal treatment and discrimination of the disabled must be stopped now and these purposeful acts to cover-up deaths can no longer continue in New York State or any State. Large numbers of deaths are treated as cold cases from day one and simply filed away as if the disabled are dispensable and who cares if there is true justice.
Stand with us for ''equal rights'' and ''civil rights'' for people with disabilities in New York State and throughout our great country by signing our petition at www.jonathancareyfoundation.org. Consider a donation of $9.11 to help 911 become a required law, to be immediately called by all mandated reporters regarding all physical and sexual assaults, gross negligence of care, significant and suspicious injuries and when a person with a disability is in medical distress or has stopped breathing. http://jonathancareyfoundation.org/donate/