[mansion]

Updates on this earth-shattering story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer: (excerpts)

The housing authority is about to meet some of those needs as it accedes to demands from Bowen and her nurse, Virginia Turner, to provide Bowen with an accessible, one-story apartment that will accommodate an oversized electric wheelchair.

"They have violated her civil rights" by taking so long to address her needs, Turner said.

For years, Bowen has not been able to move from her bed and do what people consider normal daily functions. Her caregiver must prepare and give her food and even help her sit on a bedpan. She plays video games, listens to music and watches television. She writes poetry to boost her self-esteem.

"Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity," Turner said.

[anobjectivist]

If our country has a cancer, this is its form.

The social damage we are causing ourselves by supporting this is immeasurable.

Is there a way to protest any aid being given to her?

[ikka]

For years, Bowen has not been able to move from her bed and do what people consider normal daily functions. Her caregiver must prepare and give her food

Her caregiver should be sued for malpractice. Just give her the basic 1200 calories a day meal... it's not like the fat lady can do anything about it!

[mountaineer]

Her caregiver must prepare and give her food and even help her sit on a bedpan. ... "Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity," Turner said.

Seems to me Ms. Lardass is the one who's treated herself with utter disrespect through the abuse she's inflicted upon her body. Exactly how much dignity is allotted a fat person plopped on a bedpan, anyway?

[CajunConservative]

Why can't they do a forced intervention? Since she's living on disability for her weight, then it should be an automatic treatment. It can be done, just channel the funds differently. I know it would be best she didn't receive any, but that's a moot point at this time. However, if the only way to receive the disability benefits would be through a program to lose the weight while medically supervised she might actually have a chance at living life.

The discovery channel had a program about a nursing home that specializes in the severely obese where they treat the depression, diet, medical needs. As the person would lose weight then exercise was incorporated. One man on there weighed over 1000 pounds and had lost down to about 400 pounds, still quite obese but he was able to function, walk, be mobile.