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***My original intent was to get Roadside memorials
approved...but honestly, I am just tired now. I am worn
down. That's not to say I have given up on this forever...but I
have for now. Hopefully one day I will find the strength to
continue this task***
To Change Laws that simply don't work and strip the
deceased person of their Rights and to introduce new laws
that would make things easier for those left behind.
The Changes:
My first fight is for Government approved Roadside Memorial
Markers.
In my research I have come to find many States don't have
specific laws on this. Many States will also remove any
personal Memorials left by family members of the deceased
only to have them put more things in place later.
There are however several States who do have Laws or
Guidelines for the Memorials. It is my goal to get Government
approved Roadside Memorials in place in Rhode Island and
then work towards a National Law. No one person’s death is
more important then another’s, I don't care who they are. We
all should have equal rights and have the option of having a
Memorial if we choose to. Granted not everyone who loses a
loved one will choose to have one, but for those of us who
feel strongly about it we should have that choice.
We are not asking them to move the earth and sky, we are
asking for a small metal sign to remember someone who
lived, was loved and important to us.
Having Government approved Markers would serve several
purposes.
1. The Markers would be small metal signs on a 4 or 5 ft post
which read "Drive Safely, and the Name of the Deceased".
They would bring awareness to a particularly dangerous area
of the road.
2. Bring some small comfort to the Grieving family
3. Put a time frame on how long Memorial Markers stay in
place. (At the end of said time limit the sign would be taken
down and presented to the family)
4. Eliminate the sometimes distracting and un kept personal
Memorials people leave behind.
5. Allow the State without feeling guilty about it to remove
any personal Memorials left by family at the site.
I am currently in the process of working with my local officials
to get Roadside Memorials in place. It takes some time and I
don't expect to see any major results until probably early
2008. But I won’t give up and will fight as long as it takes.
My second fight has yet to begin, It is going to be quite a
tough one which I am not sure I will win but if nothing else I
will raise a large amount of public awareness.
I will give you a little background information on the situation
leading into the Law and the changes I feel need to be made.
As you've already read, my Daughter was the passenger in a
vehicle driven by a 27 year old woman who without question
due to operator error/negligence caused the accident and
eventually my Daughters death. The driver lived and will go
on to live a fairly normal life and get to see her children grow
up, graduate, get married, have children, etc...
I have come to learn through much research that this woman
was possibly drinking (maybe not drunk but drinking) and may
have also been on pain killers.
She never once attempted to hit the brakes so the only
conclusion I can draw is that she passed out at the wheel
from the combination of the two together causing the crash,
or she was unable to react due to the fact that she was
impaired in judgment and or physically impaired due to the
combination of the alcohol and pain killers.
At this time she will be charged with nothing more then
driving to endanger with death resulting!
She's getting off easy if you ask me.
My problem is that without someone stating for a FACT that
she was drinking we can not get her toxicology report because
of patient confidentiality laws.
I am furious that this woman who without question was
totally at fault for this accident and my Daughters death has
the right to that confidentiality.
What about my Daughters RIGHT TO LIVE, who is going to
fight for my Daughters rights?
I feel that there should be certain exceptions in the patient
confidentiality law. I feel that when you are without question
responsible for the injury or death of another person you
should lose the right to confidentiality. We have a right to
know if the person responsible was intoxicated in any way.
I plan to fight to change this. As I have said it's a long shot
but at least I can bring public awareness to this problem. You
never know if you can make a difference unless you try.
Anyone with any ideas, comments, suggestions, please do
use the contact us form and let me know!
approved...but honestly, I am just tired now. I am worn
down. That's not to say I have given up on this forever...but I
have for now. Hopefully one day I will find the strength to
continue this task***
To Change Laws that simply don't work and strip the
deceased person of their Rights and to introduce new laws
that would make things easier for those left behind.
The Changes:
My first fight is for Government approved Roadside Memorial
Markers.
In my research I have come to find many States don't have
specific laws on this. Many States will also remove any
personal Memorials left by family members of the deceased
only to have them put more things in place later.
There are however several States who do have Laws or
Guidelines for the Memorials. It is my goal to get Government
approved Roadside Memorials in place in Rhode Island and
then work towards a National Law. No one person’s death is
more important then another’s, I don't care who they are. We
all should have equal rights and have the option of having a
Memorial if we choose to. Granted not everyone who loses a
loved one will choose to have one, but for those of us who
feel strongly about it we should have that choice.
We are not asking them to move the earth and sky, we are
asking for a small metal sign to remember someone who
lived, was loved and important to us.
Having Government approved Markers would serve several
purposes.
1. The Markers would be small metal signs on a 4 or 5 ft post
which read "Drive Safely, and the Name of the Deceased".
They would bring awareness to a particularly dangerous area
of the road.
2. Bring some small comfort to the Grieving family
3. Put a time frame on how long Memorial Markers stay in
place. (At the end of said time limit the sign would be taken
down and presented to the family)
4. Eliminate the sometimes distracting and un kept personal
Memorials people leave behind.
5. Allow the State without feeling guilty about it to remove
any personal Memorials left by family at the site.
I am currently in the process of working with my local officials
to get Roadside Memorials in place. It takes some time and I
don't expect to see any major results until probably early
2008. But I won’t give up and will fight as long as it takes.
My second fight has yet to begin, It is going to be quite a
tough one which I am not sure I will win but if nothing else I
will raise a large amount of public awareness.
I will give you a little background information on the situation
leading into the Law and the changes I feel need to be made.
As you've already read, my Daughter was the passenger in a
vehicle driven by a 27 year old woman who without question
due to operator error/negligence caused the accident and
eventually my Daughters death. The driver lived and will go
on to live a fairly normal life and get to see her children grow
up, graduate, get married, have children, etc...
I have come to learn through much research that this woman
was possibly drinking (maybe not drunk but drinking) and may
have also been on pain killers.
She never once attempted to hit the brakes so the only
conclusion I can draw is that she passed out at the wheel
from the combination of the two together causing the crash,
or she was unable to react due to the fact that she was
impaired in judgment and or physically impaired due to the
combination of the alcohol and pain killers.
At this time she will be charged with nothing more then
driving to endanger with death resulting!
She's getting off easy if you ask me.
My problem is that without someone stating for a FACT that
she was drinking we can not get her toxicology report because
of patient confidentiality laws.
I am furious that this woman who without question was
totally at fault for this accident and my Daughters death has
the right to that confidentiality.
What about my Daughters RIGHT TO LIVE, who is going to
fight for my Daughters rights?
I feel that there should be certain exceptions in the patient
confidentiality law. I feel that when you are without question
responsible for the injury or death of another person you
should lose the right to confidentiality. We have a right to
know if the person responsible was intoxicated in any way.
I plan to fight to change this. As I have said it's a long shot
but at least I can bring public awareness to this problem. You
never know if you can make a difference unless you try.
Anyone with any ideas, comments, suggestions, please do
use the contact us form and let me know!
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