There is concern from leading disability rights, medical and legal experts that disabled people have been treated as collateral in this unfolding crisis. Disabled people are more likely to live in an institutional or congregated setting and be less able to self-isolate due to a reliance on care or support. Some states are prioritising groups, imposing blanket DNR (do not attempt resuscitation) orders, allowing the removal of long term ventilation, and operating a triage system that excludes sections of society.
This project aims to explore the impact of strategic decision-making created by states and healthcare systems in Europe in order to establish whether the rights and needs of people with disabilities are being met. It has been established that people with disabilities are a high risk group, but there is disagreement and uncertainty as to how their needs should be met. This project will provide guidance to governments, medical councils and healthcare professionals in order to maintain states obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD).
Many systems currently used during the pandemic by general populations (e.g remote working) exist because of reasonable accommodations hard fought for by disabled people. Using the CRPD framework, this project will critically analyse relevant laws, policies and guidelines that emerged in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland, Spain, UK, Italy, Sweden and Germany, It will establish whether, and how, these states complied with their CRPD obligations during the Covid-19 pandemic, and how public health measures and human rights could work in tandem to disseminate guidance and best practice to relevant stakeholders. It seeks to assess the impact of strategic aspects of decision-making on the lived experience of disabled people in Ireland, UK and Spain to inform and reflect a shared lived reality among disabled people.
