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Highlands Today

Seat belt agony

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Litton M. Walker

Published: August 29, 2009

An average of 17 times a day, I enter an automobile, twist my arthritic hip and stretch my bursitis ridden shoulder to place a safety harness across my med port. The port is plumbed directly into my heart for chemotherapy. My surgeon told me that a medium level impact while wearing my seat belt would probably unplug the port. Death would occur in about three minutes.

I asked my oncologist and my general practitioner for prescription exemption of seatbelt use as allowed by law; the answers were they would not accept "the legal liability."

Why does the Florida Legislature allow donor-cyclers to opt out on helmets, yet force me to endure regular pain and increase the risk of my life at their whim? Every law they enact serves only to restrict our rights and freedom.

My greatest hope is that when their time comes, my wishes will be answered and every time Satan jabs them with a fork, they will think of me; after all, I pray about them 17 times a day.

Litton M. Walker
Avon Park

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