State senator dies a month after telling a local radio station he was sick with Covid-19 while in El Salvador
Category: News & Politics
Via: sister-mary-agnes-ample-bottom • 3 years ago • 5 commentsBy: Kay Jones, CNN
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A Washington state senator has died a month after confirming with a local radio station he was in El Salvador and sick with Covid-19.
State Sen. Doug Ericksen's family announced his death through a statement issued Saturday by the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus, but they did not state the cause of his death.
"We are heartbroken to share that our husband and father passed away on Friday, Dec. 17. Please keep our family in your prayers and thank you for continuing to respect our privacy in this extremely difficult time," the statement said.
Ericksen represented Whatcom County's 42nd District, from Bellingham to the Canadian border, according to his website. He was elected to the Senate in 2010 after serving six terms in the state house, it says.
Ericksen told KIRO Radio in November he was sick with the virus while in El Salvador. The station's news director said in a tweet Ericksen told them he was unable to leave the country and there were no available monoclonal antibody treatments.
In an email sent to lawmakers in Washington state on November 11, Ericksen said he "took a trip to El Salvador and tested positive for COVID shortly after (he) arrived," and asked for help in getting the treatment flown to the country to help in his recovery, according to the Seattle Times, which said it obtained the email from a state Senate staffer.
Ericksen had repeatedly called for the resignation of Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee, in numerous posts on his website. His latest news release, dated November 1, said the state was the "national leader in authoritarian government."
"Throughout this COVID situation, Inslee has been out of step with the rest of the country," Ericksen said in the release. "He says his vengeful act was based on science, but it's certainly not the science understood by public health officials and elected leaders in every other state of the union."
Inslee released a statement Saturday in response to news of Ericksen's death, saying he and his wife send "our deep condolences to Sen. Doug Ericksen's family, friends and colleagues. Our hearts are with them."
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Earlier this year, Ericksen introduced Senate Bill 5144 , which would have prohibited discrimination against the unvaccinated in employment, education, public accommodations and travel. Similar legislation has been passed in 12 states. But in Washington, majority Democrats in the state Legislature did not give the bill a hearing. Instead, they passed a resolution extending the governor’s emergency authority indefinitely, giving the governor sweeping authority to suspend laws and issue orders.
“Throughout this COVID situation, Inslee has been out of step with the rest of the country,” Ericksen said. “He says his vengeful act was based on science, but it’s certainly not the science understood by public health officials and elected leaders in every other state of the union.”
Ericksen noted that his anti-discrimination bill remains alive for reconsideration in the upcoming 2022 legislative session. The bill takes no position for or against vaccines, he said, but establishes that vaccination is a matter of personal choice. “Today the case for the bill is all the stronger, and I think we will see even greater public support in the coming session, as people begin realizing what an outlier Washington state has become.” Source
Famous last words?
Actually, his last words went something like 'I need monoclonal antibody treatment and a doctor who can administer the treatment sent to me here in El Salvador immediately! Screw the fact that most of my constituents aren't eligible for the treatment because of the short supply and off-the-chart cost, I need help now!!!'
I'm sorry, but I feel nothing but anger regarding this man's death. I wonder how many people he infected prior to making his self-entitled demands for preferential treatment. In addition, his disregard for the health of others was made clear by the way he attacked Gov. Inslee every five minutes. And now his family is asking for privacy. Yeah, I say screw their privacy.
Karma
If you are going to go to a country with inadequate medical services and a high CV infection rate, make sure your will is in order.
That was a pretty stupid thing for him to do, but his choice and he won't be making choices anymore.
Was he vaccinated and boosted?
Maybe we should nominate him for a group (republican) darwin award?