More and more the language around the coronavirus pandemic is being framed around the ethos of ‘survival of the fittest’.
“Most people recover and it’s only the chronically sick and disabled that are more likely to die” says the media dismissively. It’s a sentiment that I’ve heard constantly over the past few weeks, as though it’s an acceptable outcome; our lives aren’t as valuable as everyone else’s.
In a culture where prejudice against disabled people is rife, this dismissal of our rights to equal treatment due to the lack of available equipment, is compounding the belief that we are worthless and not viable members of society.
As Guardian columnist Frances Ryan writes:
“If the wider public is complacent about the virus harming disabled and older people, they’re less likely to be vigilant of their responsibility to help contain it, through simple measures such as regular handwashing. This goes for the medical profession, too. Early reports warned that the “weakest NHS patients” could be denied lifesaving support if ventilators need to be rationed in the event of a severe coronavirus outbreak.”
Meanwhile, a leading former nurse, Professor June Edwards has stated a coronavirus pandemic “Would be quite useful” in clearing “bed-blockers”, because (some) people “would be taken out of the system” (she later said her comments were “ironic”).
What next. We must all wear some form of marker to identify whether we’re viable members of society?
Hmmm, wonder where that idea came from?!
Description of cartoon for those people using screen reading software
A group of disabled people of mixed ethnicity and impairment have all been given large stars to wear on their front. A piece of paper at their feet reads ‘lack of equipment to treat Covid 19’. A white woman in a blue suit is handing out the stars and is saying: “It’s just to indicate that you’re special when it comes to deciding what treatment we provide for you!” Behind her back she is holding a piece of paper with a star on it and the words ‘identifies bed blockers’.
Crippen Cartoons 
Posted by Pete Keenan on 15/04/2020 at 09:50
Dave’s cartoons and commentaries – in combination; what a truly splendid account and analysis of not only government’s record in relation to health and social provision for the disabled, but which also clinically reveals in it’s detailed historical legislative review, the truth highlighted by Martin Niemöllers famous: ‘First they came for…….etc’ text.
This is the take that I have always had on the progressive and remorseless ramping up of the legislation underpinning the ‘Hostile Environment’ for Refugee’s over a parallel era. The manner in which the state treats its most vulnerable citizens acts as a litmus test for the condition of our civilisation in general.
Posted by crippencartoons on 15/04/2020 at 13:53
Thanks for taking the trouble to respond to my blog Pete, and in such a positive way. Much appreciated 🙂