Disability rights advocates say Jerika Bolen's death amid incurable disease was an injustice

APPLETON — Disability rights advocates say the death of a Wisconsin teenager who was allowed to end treatment of her incurable disease was an injustice.


The Post-Crescent (http://post.cr/2drsMW4 ) reports that 14-year-old Jerika Bolen died on September 22nd at a hospice facility after drawing national attention for her decision to end a lifelong fight against a progressive disease that left her mostly immobile and with severe, chronic pain.

Not Dead Yet, a New York-based anti-euthanasia organization, issued a statement after Jerika's death, criticizing the news coverage as "one-sided applause for her suicide." The group said it's concerned the press would inspire others with disabilities and their parents to make a similar choice.

Jerika's mother, Jen Bolen, said Wednesday, September 28th that no one in their right mind would let someone suffer the way Jerika was.