In June, as COVID-19 cases threatened to overwhelm healthcare resources, many states were working to produce guidelines for rationing care in public and private hospitals and healthcare facilities in the event of shortages of equipment and staff. Unfortunately many of these policies have a chilling discriminatory effect.
The California Care Rationing Coalition, a broad-based coalition from the disability, aging, anti-racism, and fat-rights communities, worked with the California Governor’s office and leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services and successfully changed the state’s rationing protocols to help eliminate discrimination, creating a model for other states
The new guidelines state that healthcare decisions, including rationing of resources, cannot be based on age, race, disability (including weight-related disabilities and chronic medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity (including national origin and language spoken), ability to pay, weight/size, socioeconomic status, insurance status, perceived self-worth, perceived quality of life, immigration status, incarceration status, homelessness, or past or future use of resources.
“Why Are You Hiding?”
The new guidelines were a massive step in the right direction, but there’s more work to do. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell if hospitals are following the guidelines because they are currently keeping their policies secret.
That creates a situation where, despite the hard-won non-discriminatory guidelines, people of color, disabled people, Fat people, seniors and others who are covered may still be facing discrimination in COVID-19 treatment, including refusal of care. Even if they are able to choose which facility to go to, they have no way of knowing whether or not they are likely to face discrimination.
We are demanding that healthcare facilities, starting with California-based giant Kaiser Permanente, provide transparency in their compliance with CA State guidelines, including publicly disclosing their rationing policies.
ACTIVISM OPPORTUNITY!
You can help by posting to social media demanding that Kaiser publicly disclose their rationing policies, and inviting their friends to join in using the hashtags #NoBodyIsDisposable #PostYourPolicy #NoICUgenics
Here’s an example:
Kaiser Permanente – Why are you hiding your policy? What is your policy? We need to know! We are worried about people of color, disabled people, higher weight people, and seniors being refused treatment during COVID-19. Publicly disclose your COVID care and rationing policies. @aboutKP @KPOCThrive @KPSCALnews @KPMemberService @KPSanDiego @kpeastbayarea @KPGreaterSac @JMillerPhipps #NoBodyIsDisposable #PostYourPolicy #NoICUgenics
For more info on the campaign, sample social media posts, and articles to share check out:
https://nobodyisdisposable.org/stop-care-rationing/
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UPCOMING ONLINE WORKSHOP:
Getting Jiggly With It! Movement In A Fat Body
Movement/fitness/exercise by any definition is never an obligation or barometer of worthiness. But for fat people who want to move our bodies – whether it’s because we enjoy it, or because of the benefit(s) we get from it (even if we don’t enjoy it,) whatever our reasons a fatphobic culture can create barriers, misinformation, and other difficulties for us. In this workshop we’ll explore tips, tricks, and information to help us move our bodies for our own reasons. (This workshop can also be helpful to fitness pros who want to create a fat-positive practice!)
Details and Registration: https://danceswithfat.org/monthly-online-workshops/
*This workshop is free for DancesWithFat members
Like this blog? Here’s more stuff you might like:
Wellness for All Bodies Program:A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective. This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!
Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)
Non-members Click here for all the details and to register!
Body Love Obstacle Course
This e-course that includes coaching videos, a study guide, and an ebook with the tools you need to create a rock-solid relationship with your body. Our relationships with our bodies don’t happen in a vacuum, so just learning to see our beauty isn’t going to cut it. The world throws obstacles in our way – obstacles that aren’t our fault, but become our problem. Over the course of this program, Ragen Chastain, Jeanette DePatie, and six incredible guest coaches will teach you practical, realistic, proven strategies to go above, around, and through the obstacles that the world puts in front of you when it comes to living an amazing life in the body you have now.
Price: $99.00 Click here to register
($79.00 for DancesWithFat members – register on the member page)
Love It! 234 Inspirations And Activities to Help You Love Your Body
This is filled with thoughtful advice from the authors Jeanette DePatie, Ragen Chastain, and Pia Sciavo-Campo as well as dozens of other notable names from the body love movement, the book is lovingly illustrated with diverse drawings from size-positive artist Toni Tails.
Price: $9.99 softcover, $7.99 Kindle, ($6.95 + free shipping for DancesWithFat Members)
Book Me! I’d love to speak to your organization (and I can do it remotely!) You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!
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