Dear #MedTwitter,
Please do not make statements assuming a person with a major disability has a poor quality of life. This is ableism.
1/ https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11968402/disabled-man-died-texas-docs-refused-to-treat/

2/
St. David’s Doctor: “So as of right now, his quality of life - he doesn’t have much of one.”

Melissa: “What do you mean? Because he’s paralyzed with a brain injury he doesn’t have quality of life?”

St. David’s Doctor: “Correct”

3/ This conversation was recorded (and that’s legal in Texas if one person consents), so I’m not making it up...

4/ He could communicate, see his five kids, laugh, sing... all as a quadriplegic with a brain injury


He may of had more quality of life than any of us.

Say his name #MichaelHickson

5/
As a Brain Injury Medicine physician, I have fought for patients like this every day of my career in #Physiatry

Begging doctors who don’t know the outcome data or “wouldn’t want to live that way” to give a chance at treatment, rehab, & life.

6/ #BlackLivesMatter & Black lives with disabilities really matter!

There is data that shows less access to rehab and poorer outcomes for Black individuals with brain injury, stroke, and SCI.
And we need to see it for what it really is... based in racism & ableism.