Page 2 - Your Rights and Dignity – AFI-LLC - February 2022

Your Rights and Dignity – AFI-LLC – February 2022 2 of 4

Your Rights and Dignity – End of Life is Not End of Rights
Imagine a judicial system in which one entity – a judge or
litigant party, or counsel – were able and encouraged to
present biased evidence, or create a biased atmosphere.
Imagine doing so by stating an investigator, attorney, litigant
party, witness, judge or juror had to comply with protocols –
mandates – contrary to their personal belief system, medical
considerations, and other personal needs. Imagine being told
you could not investigate, represent, be represented,
confront witnesses, or have a fair judicial process because
disconnected policy makers set standards which create bias –
intentional or not.

This has and continues to happen since the events of 2020. Prior to 2020, and rightfully so in many cases, were
demonstrated biases leading to miscarriages of justice. For decades various persons and groups fought to correct these
and improve our judicial system. What happened? 2020 did.

As defenders of our rights, we are going a bit off-topic this month to address the elephant in the room – the continued
surrender, or demand to surrender, individual rights en masse for displaced concepts of public health and safety. This
has been an issue since the events of 2020, and we cited many times as a growing issue with no end in sight. The
reasons for this are simple: 1) institutions creating ever-changing policies which deny these rights; 2) individuals who
have surrendered them, thinking temporarily, for the good of others; and 3) individuals who have demanded others lose
their rights, asserting temporarily, for the good of themselves. Each of these have long been in conflict with reality –
nothing is temporary, and both historically and presently, grows longer and stronger tentacles of power over the
individual and your rights.

We have previously shared our concerns with ‘essential’ businesses vs. closing all others, or severely limiting access. This
included legal investigators and the professions typically working together. Although we were not negatively affected
due to our business model, and very fortunate, many others – like maybe you reading this – were, and some still are.
Being greatly involved in many state and national associations, we saw these negative impacts and also how many came
together to bring a positive outlook to others. This is one of the powers of good networking.

More so than 2020, as also predicted and warned, the continued assault on your rights – personal and business – has
continued and compounded. Some associations did have in-person meetings and conferences, others could not. Many
are still canceling these because of circumstances beyond their control – such as travel interruptions, restrictions, and
requirements. Others, like ourselves, have been deeply and personally impacted by policies which cause interruptions
and restrictions. Judicial proceedings are again stopped or with restrictive protocols inhibiting a fair process.

In November of 2021 Dean’s elderly Dad fell, requiring transport to a local hospital. Due to everchanging policies, Dean
was denied physical access to his Dad and care – even as his medical and personal power of attorney. Ultimately his Dad
chose to discharge the same day and has since recovered well. This was not new – the leading healthcare system spent
the previous 18 months changing their policy after every appointment – with one specialist ultimately terminating the
relationship, and other health adverse decisions. The right to healthcare? The oath to first do no harm? At every
interaction and communication I was told the hospital systems face a moral dilemma in allowing or denying patient's the
presence of a loved one. This is no moral dilemma - the undignified death of a patient without any family is immoral.
First do no harm. We all know, and the medical profession emphasized the importance of family presence to the
patient's healing and positive progress. Until the events of 2020. Hospital systems claim, as a private business – they
may be more restrictive than public health order and even law. This is wrong and abusive. Hospitals are not a choice to
patients – they are a requirement for their health, even their life – they do not have other options, such as may be with
going to a restaurant or grocery store. Hospital systems have completely ignored the ADA to enforce these policies.

Less than two weeks after, Dean’s Mom – Karen’s best friend of 30 years – became very ill and on the third clinic,
including her primary care physician, was finally agreed to be seen. This resulted in transport to the local hospital for

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