Saturday, March 18, 2006

Protests in Ohio


It seems those pesky Deaf people are at it again, fighting for their rights:
Two dozen activists who say doctors are unlawfully refusing interpreters for deaf patients staged a protest in a medical office building Thursday, trying at one point to push past police to confront a physician who refused to meet with the group.

The Deaf and Deaf-Blind Committee on Human Rights, an advocacy group based in North Olmsted, targeted Dr. Kornelia Solymos, a family doctor who they say repeatedly declined to sign an agreement to provide interpreters.

Deaf patients and their advocates say that without interpreters, it is difficult to understand instructions from doctors. They note in particular the risk for medication mistakes. "The doctor assumes we know what they're saying, and we don't," one activist said through an interpreter.

Anyone know people involved in this? Would love to contact them.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't know them, but kudos to them. We need more deafies who stand up for their rights. :)

elizabeth

Mr. Sandman said...

Good for them! I'm tired of people saying they can't provide interpreters, especially doctors. I definitely want to know how this case turns out...