Bill Cosby’s health is reportedly deteriorating as he continues to face civil litigation. His attorney recently said the 89-year-old is legally blind and has significant mobility limitations, making in-person legal proceedings difficult. His representatives have also previously said that glaucoma caused his blindness and that he underwent two major surgeries after doctors discovered severe blockages in his carotid arteries.

But his health does not automatically erase his legal responsibilities. In 2026, a jury ordered Cosby to pay $59.25 million in a civil sexual-assault case brought by Donna Motsinger, and a judge later refused his request for a new trial. His attorneys subsequently cited his medical condition when explaining why he missed court-ordered depositions.

The situation raises a difficult question: how should the legal system balance accountability with serious age-related disability? Courts can consider medical limitations when determining whether someone can participate in depositions or hearings and what accommodations may be appropriate. But being elderly, blind, or seriously ill does not by itself erase a civil judgment or prevent a court from continuing proceedings.

Whatever your opinion of Bill Cosby, the legal question remains separate from his health: should someone who has been found civilly liable still be required to face the consequences, even when serious medical problems make the legal process much more difficult? What do you think?