Frontrunner for US Supreme Court post scrutinized for having diabetes
Just read this article:
"With President Obama's Supreme Court choice expected within weeks, the vetting process for prospective candidates has grown more intense. Judicial rulings, legal papers, public statements and financial records all are being pored over with eagle eyes. So too is a far more sensitive matter: medical records.
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A frontrunner for the post, Judge Sonia Sotomayor of U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, is a Type One diabetic. It is one of the more compelling aspects to an already compelling biography. And while hardly a debilitating disease -- indeed, recent medical advancements have made it quite manageable to live with -- there remain enough late-in-life health implications to have sparked debate in legal, political and medical circles. Just how relevant are medical issues to Sotomayor's or any other potential Supreme Court nomination?"
Do you think having diabetes (of any type) should be a barrier for someone with the qualifications to be a US Supreme Court Justice? I thought we were well beyond this... but it seems we have a long way to go raising awareness.
Life with diabetes can be very long and healthy!
"With President Obama's Supreme Court choice expected within weeks, the vetting process for prospective candidates has grown more intense. Judicial rulings, legal papers, public statements and financial records all are being pored over with eagle eyes. So too is a far more sensitive matter: medical records.
...
A frontrunner for the post, Judge Sonia Sotomayor of U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, is a Type One diabetic. It is one of the more compelling aspects to an already compelling biography. And while hardly a debilitating disease -- indeed, recent medical advancements have made it quite manageable to live with -- there remain enough late-in-life health implications to have sparked debate in legal, political and medical circles. Just how relevant are medical issues to Sotomayor's or any other potential Supreme Court nomination?"
Do you think having diabetes (of any type) should be a barrier for someone with the qualifications to be a US Supreme Court Justice? I thought we were well beyond this... but it seems we have a long way to go raising awareness.
Life with diabetes can be very long and healthy!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on -
It would be wonderful for a diabetic to be a member of the supreme court.
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Permalink Reply by Ahmad on -
WoW, she is not on drugs people and she didn't had a choice about having diabetes!
I hate this when happens, are we aliens from the planet Diabetic!!!! Jeez
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Permalink Reply by Terry Keelan on -
If ever there was a moment for us to ACT UP!! this is it . . .
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Permalink Reply by Gerri on -
How absurd!
People should be more concerned with late-in-life mental impairments from some ancient members who've sat on the Supreme Court. This, however, has never been an issue for legal, medical or political debate.
Hoping this current debate will help raise awareness & start a real dialogue. Also hope it galavanizes people to rally around Judge Sotomayor. We could start a letter writing campaign here. Can Tu D issue an official statement in support?
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Permalink Reply by Gerri on
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Yes, not everyone here is a US citizen. As a case of someone potentially being discriminated against because of diabetes, would you object to Tu D offering support? This is an opportunity to educate & get the word out regardless of nationality.
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Permalink Reply by Cheri on -
I agree, Gerri. I would see this as a good use of TuD - but I suppose we'd need a vote or something about it because we are truly international here.
However - We can contact the White House and our Representatives to let them know how we feel. If all US diabetics weighed in, think how powerful that would be!
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Permalink Reply by Manny Hernandez on -
Rainbow,
Precisely being sensitive about this, I intentionally titled the topic including US in the subject, so that it would not be implied that it was relevant to everyone in the community.
Gerri,
The way we are set up as a nonprofit does not allow us (the Diabetes Hands Foundation) to initiate that kind of petition. However, there is nothing preventing members of the community to start such a petition. If you want a recommendation, I find Change.org to be particularly well suited for the kind of petition you mention.
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Permalink Reply by Gerri on
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Thanks, Manny.
I wasn't suggesting a petition, but an official statement from an organization representing 1000's of PWD. Nothing supporting her nomination or appointment, just a position statement that educates & encourages that a candidate be assessed on qualifications, not discriminated against based on a medical condition that has no bearing on job performance. If the admin team agreed, would this be permitted? Non-profits issue position papers on the issues they're organized around & their members are in favor of this type of advocacy.
Petitions are ok, but I question how effective on-line petitions are. There's an on-line petition for everything & I think this makes them lose impact. Letters, faxes, emails, phone calls are more powerful attention getting tools. Decision makers know people do care deeply about an issue when they take the time to write & call as opposed to the two minutes it takes to sign a petition. Letters, etc. also often get a response where on-line petitions don't.
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Permalink Reply by Cobi Campbell on -
"People should be more concerned with late-in-life mental impairments from some ancient members who've sat on the Supreme Court. This, however, has never been an issue for legal, medical or political debate."
Good point! It seems completely ridiculous to me that it would be a factor.
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Permalink Reply by Denise Bevard on -
I don't think having diabetesof any kind should be a barrier,but I also don't beleive having diabetes should be the deciding factor for the nomiination.
So, I would be ok with a letter about the issue to raise awareness---not a letter of support for the nomination. As it has already been pointed out, TuD's are not all are Americans, and not all who are Americans on this site would support this nomination if Diabetes was not involved.
So support of the issue yes,support of the nomination-don't think TuD should go there.
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Permalink Reply by Cheri on
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Excellent points, Denise. Support should be around NOT including diabetes as selection criteria, no matter where we individually fall in terms of our politics. Even if I opposed Judge Sotomayor in ideological terms, I would not want diabetes to play any role in the process.
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