Comments on: Transplant Decision Too Late, Teen Dies

Insurer Initially Refused To Pay For Liver Transplant; Girl Dies After Procedure Approved

[mcvet]

Listen fella, what do you know about medical systems in developed countries you so cheerfully scorn? I alternately live in the US and in one of those your lying propaganda so downgrades and can confirm this: Life threatening case receive immediate priority, this girl''''s case would have, too. So stop lying through your teeth and go back to school to study more geopolitics, Mr. "Expert".


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Posted by d1191962 at 09:27 AM : Dec 22, 2007
+ report abu

Where did the poster lie. You Nazi''s do this all the time and it''s got to stop. No one can have an honest debate around you "I''m superior" fascist. You never address the points presented, you only attack the person and attempt to cast them aside. I like this person have gone through the Profit Motivated Claim System of our Insurance System, a System, it must be noted cost us MORE per person and provides less for the citizens of this nation than any system in the word. Let''s try to be honest here and stop with this "I''m okay and to he11 with you" attitude. This nation is going to He11 in a hand basket and you freaks just keep on with the same garbage. Growing up in this nation I never had to worry about Insurance but my dad was a Union Worker and had coverage. That''s GONE and the job he had is in some third world country. Time to deal with the PROBLEM here. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[poopusbuttus]

[e-mail]

[poopusbuttus]

RE : poopusbuttus

Since you work for Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates
Give us the e-mail address of his office

Lastdance


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Posted by lastdance7

Ok, I''ll give it to you. Are you ready......here it comes.......

[lf1952]

This is not about insurance - this is about good health care and utilization of donated organs.

Contrary to popular belief, death is NOT optional if you throw enough care/money/procedures at it.

Doing procedures that have NO *reasonable* likelihood of restoring the patient to a meaningful existence (patient''s definition, preferably) should NOT be offered to families, and families should ask the question: "What is the likelihood this will get him/her out of the hospital and able to be happy?"

"Do everything" is a OFTEN synonym for legalized torture - doing uncomfortable and/or painful procedures that have no reasonable hope of long term success in a patient who can''t protest. Doctors who accept that request from families, instead of sharing realistic expectations do the patient and the family a GRAVE disservice.

A hospital chaplain once told me that keeping someone alive in the hope of a miracle was attempting to place time constraints on God. If God intended a miracle, He does not need our help to "give him time to perform it".

[lf1952]

Contrary to popular belief, death is NOT optional if you throw enough care/money/procedures at it.

Doing procedures that have NO *reasonable* likelihood of restoring the patient to a meaningful existence (patient''s definition, preferably) should NOT be offered to families, and families should ask the question: "What is the likelihood this will get him/her out of the hospital and able to be happy?"

"Do everything" is a OFTEN synonym for legalized torture - doing uncomfortable and/or painful procedures that have no reasonable hope of long term success in a patient who can''t protest. Doctors who accept that request from families, instead of sharing realistic expectations do the patient and the family a GRAVE disservice.

A hospital chaplain once told me that keeping someone alive in the hope of a miracle was attempting to place time constraints on God. If God intended a miracle, He does not need our help to "give him time to perform it".

[d1191962]

To nfynvk74769 at 08:41 AM : Dec 22, 2007

Listen fella, what do you know about medical systems in developed countries you so cheerfully scorn? I alternately live in the US and in one of those your lying propaganda so downgrades and can confirm this: Life threatening case receive immediate priority, this girl''s case would have, too. So stop lying through your teeth and go back to school to study more geopolitics, Mr. "Expert".

[excoachken]

To Republic 1776: You are not making any sense. Change your medication, soon, or you will start drooling all over your keyboard. This situation is not Liberal vs. Neo-con,it is humane vs. inhumane.

[sueco4]

For those of you who believe Hilary care would have saved this girl, think again. In countries that have universal health care, the care is being rationed. Smokers are told they cannot have an operation. People wait weeks or even months for life saving tests or surgeries. I''ve read two recent postings by women with breast cancer in countries with universal health care that were thankful they had private health insurance and could bypass the lines. Pity the poor in those countries that don''t have this out. I agree that the insurance company made the right decision, based on the girl''s medical history. Another person, not as sick, will benefit from that precious gift of a new liver.

[lf1952]

She had:
(1) leukemia - had had a bone marrow transplant, too early to know it''s success
(2) liver failure - why?
(3) vegetative for weeks
If this wasn''t way beyond any rational approach to use a donated liver that could give someone else life, I don''t know what is. A liver can give a young person almost 30 YEARS of life. According to the people *suggesting* it, she had a 65% chance of being alive at 6 MONTHS! and they don''t mention her probable quality of life.

If my family had been the next person of the transplant liver list for an accepted indication, and this girl had gotten the liver, I would wondered if I could sue the doctor that transplanted the liver, harming my family by negligently using that liver for an unproven indication.

I practice overseas taking of Americans, but have regular contact with citizens from the UK and Canada. I have yet to hear a SINGLE one say they were satisfied with their care in their country. I can assure you that the UK National Health Service would never even have considered this procedure. You can appeal to/sue insurance companies, but it is very hard to appeal to or sue the government .

If you look at the way Medicare works: Most physicians lose money on a Medicare patient if they spend more than a few minutes with them - that''s why many very excellent, caring and conscientious physicians no longer accept Medicare paying patients. You should think "Medicare for all" and be VERY, VERY afraid.

[kazar701949]

The operation should have been performed...."NO QUESTION" There would have been no question if she lived in Canada.... "c''mon Doctors.....DO YOUR JOB... !!!!!! I blame the doctors.....

[abbe91]

"Does that mean that there was a 35% chance of death before six months? It sounds like the transplant would not have saved her life and maybe a donor liver should used to save a life not extend it for a few months.
Posted by standlee5 at 12:25 AM : Dec 22, 2007"

Or a 65% chance of life. Would you like to be the one to decide ?

[njb1918]

Why didnt the doctors operate on this girl and sue the insurance company for payment?I believe any jury monetary judgement would have far exceeded than the cost. norm

[bb19631]

Universal Healthcare for everyone in the USA is what''s needed. Watch Michael Moore''s documentary called "Sicko" it says it all. The insurance companies are getting paid billions to deny people'' life saving procedures. we are dying because of it. This is a sad but on going problem , I hope the families sue and win.

[andrew_693]

there is no money for the transpant but there sure is over 80 billion dollars for irak and it''s puppet corrupt regime. There is no money to help the katrina survivors but there sure is money for haliburton and the mercenaries that run the show.

[scarletphd]

Not only are you creepy, you''''re a idiot.
Posted by rohink

not only that, but you''re AN ignorant moron with no grammer skills

[rohink-2009]

rohink- RE; ''''"equal society"

All pigs are "equal", but Republican pigs are more equal.

Posted by JohnShaft4

~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Not only are you creepy, you''re a idiot.

[fizzal-2009]

If I go to the hospital Im going with a credit card and gold so if you want to get paid you best keep me alive.

[standlee5]

"In their letter, the UCLA doctors said patients in situations similar to Nataline''s who undergo transplants have a six-month survival rate of about 65 percent."


Does that mean that there was a 35% chance of death before six months? It sounds like the transplant would not have saved her life and maybe a donor liver should used to save a life not extend it for a few months.

[brianbwb-2009]

This is the circumstance that Bush wants to force American children into, pay high insurance premiums, only for the companies to renege on their obligations in order to maximize profit, part of which goes as bribe money into the pockets of the "free market" worshiping legislators...

If your child dies in this circumstance, too bad...

[observantx]

A doctor, a nurse and an HMO CFO are standing at the Pearly gates. St Pete asks the doctor, "why do you belong in heaven?" The doctor says, I "spent nearly 50 years of my life, working, studying, and trying to relieve the pain and suffering of the sick people who came to me for relief"

Pete asks the nurse the same question and she says " I worked for nearly 40 years by the side of this doctor and others to make my patients comfortable and to help their families deal with the loss of their loved ones"

Pete says "Hey, works for me. Your wings and halo are just down that golden road"

The HMO exec says " Well, i took the fiduciary risks to construct a viable business model that provides efficient cost/benefit analysis to health care provision"

St Peter says "That''s sounds good to me. You can come into heaven."

"But only for three days"

Thus it should be if there truly is any justice in this world or after.