"I cannot imagine that this practice exists", insisted the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, who was speaking on Saturday by videoconference with the Secretary of State for Persons with Disabilities, Sophie Cluzel. He stressed that people with disabilities "should receive the same care as the rest of the population", even refusing to "imagine" a "sorting" of patients with coronavirus, during a press conference.
The Minister reacted to concerns expressed by the voluntary sector and the medical community that people with disabilities could be refused hospital treatment if they contract Covid-19.
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"Disability should not be a criterion for refusing treatment"
"Disability should not be a criterion for refusing treatment, whether we are talking about simple hospitalization or resuscitation. This is how I reacted to a controversy that arose following the internal publication within of a regional health agency, of documents which emanated from a French company and which could have suggested that the presence of a mental handicap or a cognitive handicap could constitute a brake on the admission to intensive care of patients with Covid-19 ", said Olivier Véran.
"I defend this with the utmost firmness (...) there can be no question of putting the slightest obstacle to their admission for these reasons alone," added the minister, adding that "the controversy was not born of 'a practice that would have been observed' but from this publication.
Facing Covid-19, the protection of our fellow citizens in #handicap situations is essential. Update on the situation with @S_Cluzel ⤵️https: //t.co/h9yiVpVzu7
- Olivier Véran (@olivierveran) April 4, 2020CORONAVIRUS ESSENTIALS
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A sorting away from the ethics and dedication of caregivers
"I have not had an echo of situations ... I cannot even use this word of" sorting "which seems to me so far removed from the vocations, ethics, deontology and the incredible dedication which show health professionals on the territory, "he added.
The president of the Handicapped Collective, Arnaud de Broca, had reported Friday to AFP "feedback" nourishing his "strong concern" that people with disabilities may be denied care if they contract the coronavirus.
A doctor from the Grand Est, who requested anonymity, meanwhile told AFP that he had been shocked by the email from a local hospital who considered "necessary to adopt a proportionate care strategy", to "maximize the chances of survival of residents who could potentially pass a course", and "accompany" (without hospitalizing) "those who unfortunately will not pass".
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