Disaboom Survey Reveals 52 Percent of Americans Would Rather be Dead Than Disabled

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:33 AM EDT

Article Source: Reuters

health, life, death, disability, disabled

52 percent of Americans would rather die than live with a severe disability, according to a recent national survey commissioned by Disaboom (OTCBB: DSBO) (www.disaboom.com), the premiere online community for people touched by disability. Disaboom today announced the shocking results in an effort to educate people about why this viewpoint is so tragic.

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{"commentId":2185438,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}

yasmin

"Which would you choose: Living with a severe disability that forever alters your ability to live an independent life, or death?"

{"commentId":2185438,"threadId":"312649","contentId":"1664049","authorDomain":"yasmin"}

1 vote

#1 - Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":2185479,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}

yasmin

The results of the survey are fascinating, though to be honest I think I'd ask the question a bit differently. Severe disabilities don't necessarily mean the end of an independent life. Then again, when you're an able human being and you suddenly become disabled, I guess the experience can be tragic.

{"commentId":2185479,"threadId":"312649","contentId":"1664049","authorDomain":"yasmin"}

1 vote

#1.1 - Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":2199530,"authorDomain":"yasmin"}

yasmin

Commenting again because maybe it was missed?...

{"commentId":2199530,"threadId":"312649","contentId":"1664049","authorDomain":"yasmin"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":2199569,"authorDomain":"dbourdeau"}

Diane B.

Yes, it is tragic when a person becomes disabled. I have watched my daughter for the past almost ten years. It is amazing how strong the spirit is among life's greatest struggles whether it be lost of sight, or the ability to walk.

I believe in my heart and from watching my grandmother who became blind but lived to be in her nineties, while raising my brother, sister and myself a four year old child how valuable she believed life was, even her with disability.

My daughter became disabled, and quickly became wheel chair bound nine years ago, I saw her grasp life, even with the difficulties, still creating friends, laughing and making the valiant attempts to enjoy life for as long as she could.

I think from the bottom of my heart that we need to grab hold of life, much like my grandmother, much like my daughter did as long as she could, and never give up on life.

{"commentId":2199569,"threadId":"312649","contentId":"1664049","authorDomain":"dbourdeau"}

#2 - Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":2219214,"authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

Tedd Riggs

While only 45 percent of people living in the South chose
death, 61 percent of people in the West would rather die than be
disabled.

That kinda surprised me, I would have thought is would have been reversed.

I never once thought about the choice of death vs life after I was disabled, I only thank God and the fast actions of some very skilled mountain climbers and a small army of surgeons to put me back together again. Sure there were plenty of times were I was frustrated as could be because I could not do the simple little things like I used to and it took years before I could do much on my own, but the actual thought of giving up life, no way. There is too much out there too just give up.

My Grandmother told me as I grew up (In Norwegian) and roughly in English it was:

Your Dreams Die, you die never let your dreams die

{"commentId":2219214,"threadId":"312649","contentId":"1664049","authorDomain":"TeddRi"}

5 votes

#3 - Thu Jul 17, 2008 10:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":2357994,"authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

MinnieApolis

While only 45 percent of people living in the South chose
death, 61 percent of people in the West would rather die than be
disabled.

Actually I am not at all surprised by that difference. The West is typically or stereotypically the heart of a rugged individualist, self-reliant mystique. The South is much more characterized by strong social ties -- so that what you can do is much less important than who you are related to, etc.

Actually my dreams have died many times, Tedd. That's life.

{"commentId":2357994,"threadId":"312649","contentId":"1664049","authorDomain":"MinnieApolis"}

#3.1 - Mon Aug 4, 2008 12:00 AM EDT

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YASMIN

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Disaboom Survey Reveals 52 Percent of Americans Would Rather be Dead Than Disabled

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