O'Bleness Hospital changing their story; woman their patient, died elsewhere

[OzarkDem]

Hospital attacking Clinton now admits the woman in the story didn't die there. So why are they attacking Clinton's story and claiming its false? Methinks the hospital doth protest too much. They're changing their story, and it stinks to high heaven. This needs to be investigated.

According to this post, the young woman died in Columbus, a more likely scenario if she was uninsured or couldn't get care. Rural patients who can't get care are often sent to the closest public hospitals, usually farther away in bigger cities.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/04/05/a_tragic_tale_but_is_it_true.html

But it is unclear whether the hospital in question in Clinton's story is, in fact, O'Bleness.

According to deputy sheriff Holman, Bechtel sought treatment -- he did not know where -- from a hospital and was turned away because she could not make a $100 payment. Hospital officials said they demanded the Clinton campaign stop repeating the story because there are some people in their community who erroneously believed it referred to O'Bleness Health System.

"It's not for certain that it is us, but there are people in our community who believe that it is. We did have the patient, but we're not certain if she went somewhere else as well," explained Lynn Anastas, vice president of community relations for O'Bleness Memorial Hospital and the Health System. "There are a number of neighboring counties that have hospitals, she easily could have gone somewhere else." Bechtel did have health insurance, Anastas said, adding: "We did not turn her away."

So why did she end up at a hospital 75 miles away?

They seem to have strict billing practices and mention it frequently at their web site:

http://www.obleness.org/aboutobleness/billingpractices.pdf

List of charges, including $111 for Level 1 Emergency Room charges

http://www.obleness.org/aboutobleness/priceinformation.pdf

Note: As information, the CEO of O'Bleness Hospital is also head of the Ohio Hospital Assn. an organization that lobbies on behalf of hospitals.

[goldcanyonaz]

1. K&R!

[OzarkDem]

2. ..

:kick:

[TML]

3. Doesn't excuse the fact that

Hillary didn't vet her sources. Nice try.

[OzarkDem]

4. Her sources may be telling the truth

the hospital may be lying. They're changing their story already.

[Botany]

8. So now it is the Hospital's fault?

She was either lying or passing on bad information
... end of story/

[OzarkDem]

12. No, the story may be true

Because the hospital is now saying she didn't die at their hospital, how the hell would they know if its true or not?

Try to get over your hate for Hillary and think about this objectively. Something is wrong here. Two people died who probably shouldn't have and these people keep changing their story.

[Botany]

19. I have contempt for for her actions and her words ... not her.

BTW

"Two people died who probably shouldn't have .... "

And you got your M.D. from where? and when did
you get a chance to look over their charts, blood
chemistry, and autopsy results?

[OzarkDem]

36. Check the health care quality guidelines

Bleeding out after a delivery is treatable. This isn't 18th century wilderness America. When these things happen today it means somebody f*cked up.

[TML]

11. Doesn't prove that Hillary told the truth

Did you read the last sentence you snipped?

Bechtel did have health insurance, Anastas said, adding: "We did not turn her away."

Hillary spreaded a lie.

[OzarkDem]

20. Gov Strickland needs to call for an investigation

This hospital is changing their story in a controversial and tragic situation where two peoples lives were lost. They's behaving in a very suspicious manner.

We know the story is true - that this woman and her child died. We know she ended up dying at another hospital than the one where she had been seeking routine maternity care. The hospital says she was their patient, but she didn't die there.

The fact that the woman died from post partum complications means she didn't get good quality health care (yes, that is an established benchmark for measuring quality maternity care).

Let's hope Gov. Strickland steps in and appoints an independent, peer review committee to investigate the incident and make recommendations.

[rodeodance]

62. Yes, something fishy is going on.

[Auntie Bush]

6. KIck

[Botany]

5. Does it get dark in your world @ night? Is water Wet? Snow Cold?

To campaign and lie using a dead woman and a stillborn
baby is a new low .... even for Hillary


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/politics/05woman.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

Over the last five weeks, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York has featured in her campaign stump speeches the story of a health care horror: an uninsured pregnant woman who lost her baby and died herself after being denied care by an Ohio hospital because she could not come up with a $100 fee.

The woman, Trina Bachtel, did die last August, two weeks after her baby boy was stillborn at O’Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, Ohio. But hospital administrators said Friday that Ms. Bachtel was under the care of an obstetrics practice affiliated with the hospital, that she was never refused treatment and that she was, in fact, insured.

“We implore the Clinton campaign to immediately desist from repeating this story,” said Rick Castrop, chief executive officer of the O’Bleness Health System.

Linda M. Weiss, a spokeswoman for the not-for-profit hospital, said the Clinton campaign had never contacted the hospital to check the accuracy of the story, which Mrs. Clinton had first heard from a Meigs County, Ohio, sheriff’s deputy in late February.

A Clinton spokesman, Mo Elleithee, said candidates would frequently retell stories relayed to them, vetting them when possible. “In this case, we did try but were not able to fully vet it,” Mr. Elleithee said. “If the hospital claims it did not happen that way, we respect that.

***********

BTW I know people who work @ O'Bleness and who teach @
O.U. ... I went to school there .... So I find this story really
awful on a personal level.

[OzarkDem]

9. Castrop has changed his story

Read my post, Botany.

He's now backtracking and saying the woman was or maybe wasn't a patient of theirs and if she was, she had insurance, blah, blah blah.

They're backtracking on their attack on Clinton's story. Something is rotten in Athens.

[Botany]

15. .... you have no shame.

The only rotten thing from Athens is team
Hillary using this story. But now that she is
caught in another lie or giving bad facts team
Clinton is trying to spin this as the Hospital's
fault .... where the women died is not the issue
and you know it .... she was getting medical care.

add this to
NAFTA
N. Ireland
S-Chip
Bosnia
Plagiarism
race baiting
religion baiting
drug charges
Florida & Michigan (changing the rules after the game has started)
Running stories in a Spanish language paper in TX that Obama
is a Islamic extremest
Pimping John McCain
Doing a sit down w/ Richard Mellan Scaife
Hillary going on Fox
Bill on Rush

[OzarkDem]

26. You are way out of line, Botany

I can't believe you would stoop to using a tragedy like this to score points against Clinton.

I can't believe you would trample on the rights of Ohians to have access to lifesaving health care and speak as if the unnecessary and possibly wrongful death of an Ohio woman and her child in the incredibly backwards health care system in this state is not important.

This incident happened. This woman died, her child died. They didn't get the care they needed. The only thing we don't know is why, who was responsible and how it came about.

Their lives are important too, even if the woman who speaks out for them is Hillary Clinton.

[TLM]

33. LOL!!! You're a joke.... a spin machine.

"I can't believe you would stoop to using a tragedy like this to score points against Clinton. "


Hillary LIES about this woman being turned away from the hospital because she was uninsured, and when the hospital points out that this did not happen and people call hillary on her lies... you cry that they are using the deaths for political gain.

Face facts, Hillary used this poor woman's death and the loss of her child for her own political gain, and when caught lying about the details, she got burned. Her critics are using her own LIES against her for political gain.

So stop trying to hide behind this woman and the healthcare issue to avoid facing the fact that once again hillary has been caught lying.

[OzarkDem]

38. Read the post, they are not lies

that's the problem.

What if it were Obama making the statement and it was a black man who died from being refused health care. Would that seem wrong?

[Zhade]

35. Oh, that's fucking rich. Your lying candidate lies, using this tragedy as campaign fodder...

...and you accuse the poster who points it out of the very thing your candidate -- and you -- are guilty of.

How do you sleep at night?

[OzarkDem]

42. So you think its ok for the hospital to lie

and its also ok that a woman and her child died. And that its ok to call their tragic deaths a "made up story"? Even after the hospital backtracks on its story?

You're defending a possibly negligent health care provider and dismissing the deaths of two innocent people? Ok. As long as we're clear on that.

[Zhade]

56. CLINTON LIED ABOUT THE MOTHER BEING TURNED AWAY, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN.

NT!

[OzarkDem]

69. No she didn't

We don't know the facts of this case. The hospital keeps changing its story. You can't claim someone lied if you don't know what the facts are.

[rodeodance]

48. You are too invested in claiming Hilary lied to be objective about anything.

[Zhade]

59. She lied. Your opinion on my objectivity is a joke.

NT!

[Zhade]

31. She. Still. Lied.

So even if this is the case, she's still racked up another lie.

You fail.

[NashVegas]

44. You. Don't. Know. That.

[Zhade]

55. CLINTON LIED ABOUT THE MOTHER BEING TURNED AWAY, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN.

NT!

[indie_voter]

13. This hospital delivered the stillborn baby

Did they claim she died at that hospital? All this quote says is that she died 2 weeks after the baby was born, not that she died at that hospital.

edited to add: Didn't Senator Clinton say this woman was airlifted to another hospital, where she then died? Does anybody have the youtube link to her telling this? I saw it this morning, but can't remember where and didn't save the link...

edited again with youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A33DEl3y5Tg

[OzarkDem]

29. This is not a "make believe" story

seeing that headline on the You Tube clip is offensive. It makes me want to vomit.

The hospital can't seem to get its story straight, so its hard to know. The truth needs to come out, under subpoena if necessary.

The baby died at the hospital, the mother experienced complications from the delivery later. If a woman's uterus is ruptured, she can bleed to death in a very short period of time, so any delay is life threatening.

We need to get the full story.

[indie_voter]

41. No, it's not a make believe story. A baby and the woman died

I've had two children, nearly died with my first one (HELLP syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HELLP_syndrome ), so I understand how dangerous childbirth is.

It's not clear the hospital ever claimed she died there, Clinton doesn't claim it either, she says the woman was sent to a different hospital where she then died. That video was the one I could find which showed her telling the story (if you let put the video on pause then let it fully load, you can jump past the CNN framing of the story and just listen to Clinton)

The bone of contention is was this woman turned away from the first hospital where she later delivered her stillborn because she didn't have insurance? The hospital is saying no.

I don't think Hillary lied, I think she was telling this story in good faith but without checking out the details. But that is something all campaigns do.

[OzarkDem]

45. That's why it needs to be investigated, fully

I live in Ohio and work in a job where I routinely see hospitals refusing care to critically ill patients. This state is totally screwed up when it comes to access to health care.

Rural patients are especially at risk. These small private hospitals routinely refuse to treat them if they're uninsured forcing them to travel many miles. I see it every day. I'm very familiar with how they operate.

[indie_voter]

50. I agree with you, the full story hasn't been told and needs further investigation

I just disagree with the conclusion the hospital is changing their story. Neither Clinton or the hospital are claiming the woman died there. The hospital is saying they delivered the stillborn and the woman had insurance.

Our health care system is terrible. My dad died of Leukemia a few years ago, and even with health care, I was appalled at the how the system works. The poor among us fall through the cracks, and it's horrible.

Clinton may not be the candidate I support, but on this issue, I don't doubt for a minute that she is sincere and wants to fix it.

And anybody who has ever given birth and faced complications knows how scary it is, and how horrible it is to lose a baby. My sister also had HELLP, her daughter nearly died of complications. But again, we were fortunate to have pre-natal care, insurance, etc.

[cbayer]

7. Whether it was this hospital or not is not the point.

This does, in fact, happen. It happens everyday in every state in this country. It is an outrage and absolutely illegal. Sound to me like this particular hospital is running scared because they recognize the severe consequences if it was in fact their facility that turned this patient away.

[OzarkDem]

10. If it wasn't Castrop's hospital, why did he attack Clinton's story?

Why are they being so ambiguous about whether this woman was their patient, whether they treated her, and the circumstances and location of her death?

If she didn't die at their hospital why is he attacking Clinton and claiming her story is false? How would he know?

[tammywammy]

14. There's only so much information that hospitals can release about patients due to HIPPA

[OzarkDem]

21. They voluntarily violated HIPAA already

when they chose to attack Clinton's story. The violated it again when they changed their story.

They need to tell it to start telling it to a judge. Under oath.

[cbayer]

16. I am not saying that it wasn't that hospital.

I suspect the whole truth will come out and they are acting like they may have something to hide. My point was that this does happen all the time and pointing it out by using an example is OK with me, even if the example has some mistakes in it.

[goldcanyonaz]

17. I wonder what the outrage would be had Obama said this.

*ponders*

[cbayer]

18. Unfortunately, much the same, I think.

Each side is dissecting every statement that comes out of the others mouth to find some way to discredit them. It's embarrassing.

[OzarkDem]

22. I won't say what I'm thinking

but yes, we do have a double standard at work here, and one that is working against exposing the crime of denying people health care.

[goldcanyonaz]

25. Exactly, just like Edwards had tried to as well.

[rodeodance]

61. We would not be talking about it. Simple as that.

[mod mom]

23. "Bechtel did have health insurance," from the OP so the story was not checked out before citing it.

Tragedies happen everyday-they are awful to those involved. This particular tragedy did not happen due to lack of insurance which was the point of Clinton's story-if I'm not mistaken. It should have been checked out thoroughly by Clinton's staff before using it.

[cbayer]

28. It is often very difficult to get information like this verified,

especially if the patient is dead.

In this case, it would be even more difficult because:
1) the hospital may in fact have some significant liability, including huge fines from the federal government
2) the hospital and other health care workers are prohibited by federal law from releasing any kind of patient specific information

I saw this story as more metaphorical than anything else. Whether the details are exact or not doesn't matter to me. The fact that this happens all the time is what I see as important. Patients WITH insurance are sometimes denied care if they can't make the co-pay or haven't reached their deductible. The system is an American tragedy.

[mod mom]

40. Absolutely out healthcare system is a tragedy. I have an MHHA and was so

disillusioned that I changed fields back in the 80's. We can't move toward what Michael Moore advocated in Sicko, though, until we have leadership that is willing to stand up to corporate/special interest.

That said, I believe all "stories' that candidates use should be checked out. They should know better as often the media checks these out. They look bad when the accounts don't match the facts.

[OzarkDem]

32. Says who? And how do you know her death couldn't have been avoided?

Sorry, but I no longer believe a hospital that keeps changing its story and trying to cover its ass.

[apocalypsehow]

24. HRC boosters will go to almost any lengths to justify her, eh, "mis-statements," won't you? Sad.

n/t.

[OzarkDem]

30. In case you hadn't read the thread

I'm expressing dismay and outrage at the hospital who keeps lying about this story, as well as their failure to do their job. A woman and her child died under their care. That they keep trying to dodge responsibility for it is wrong, where I come from.

[TLM]

37. It is just disgusting how you keep

you keep using this tragedy for political gain and to prop up hillary's lies. She lies, gets caught, so now you attack the hospital with no facts, no proof, and not even any evidence to show they had done anything wrong.

all to try and squeeze out a few poll points for hillary by lying about a tragic death.

[OzarkDem]

47. You're on ignore now

bye bye

[Zhade]

39. First off, you haven't proven that the hospital "keeps lying" about it.

Meanwhile, clinton's lie about the mother being uninsured HAS been proven.

You continue to fail, and you're as transparent as glass.

[rodeodance]

49. read post 34 for some insight

[Zhade]

57. CLINTON LIED ABOUT THE MOTHER BEING TURNED AWAY, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN.

NT!

[TLM]

27. Where's the change in story?

They said hillary was wrong that the woman not only was insured, but that they did not turn her away or refuse care.

Seems to be the same story in what you quoted, with the addition that this woman didn't even die at their hospital.

[UALRBSofL]

34. OzarkDem this is what I posted on a previous post

What I find kind of unusual about this article We don't know all the details but if she had insurance or medicaid, which is a form of insurance, her co-pay is $100. Anyway, I would tread lightly if I were the hospital administrators because from the way the article reads and the way the sheriff told the story, they are conflicting stories and if I were a medical malpractice attorney I sure would jump into this case. This is kind of a fishy story and since the media has gotten ahold of it I wouldn't doubt there are attorneys lined up at the family's door to look into this case. I mean, OB/GYN cases are the attorneys dream cases when it comes to medical malpractice.




OD, now that you found this new information what it tells me is that the hospital is backtracking on the patient care because they are trying to shift it to the last hospital she was at when she died. HOWEVER, this smells fishy. I believe there should be an investigation and I am sure there is already an attorney involved after the MSM stirring this issue up. However, I think the Administration of the hospital should have kept there mouth shut because now, they may have a huge law suit on there hands.

[rodeodance]

46. Thanks--I had been keeping up on this story. Yes, your last paragraph

sounds like that is what happened.

[rodeodance]

43. K and REC

[mkultra]

51. its not a big deal

unless the hospital is lying to hang her out to dry, i wouldn't hold this one against her. Shes admittedly relaying hearsay to illustrate a point.

Stories like this can be tough to get right. Its not like it was about her.

[UALRBSofL]

52. Well, in all truth it is a big deal because

The story is blown up by the MSM. Maybe the hospital was in the right or possibly not. Whichever, the sheriff was concerned enough to tell Clinton about it. Now, since NYTimes made such an issue of it, the hospital should at least be checked into.

[mkultra]

53. maybe

i was referring to any criticism that she might receive from this confusion. But perhaps the hospital should be checked out. It was a 4th generation story though.

[rodeodance]

54. That is knid of you.

[Zhade]

60. She lied about the hospital turning the mother away, which never happened.

Playing off another's tragedy and tarnishing others' reputations in the process is a big deal.

[Bonobo]

58. Yeah, let's keep talking about it! Did Hillary lie again or was it the hospital this time!

I think this deserves much more scrutiny.

[rodeodance]

63. No lies--if anything, her campaign did not check out the story.Stop with your lies

[DerekJ]

67. I agree, It's a non issue whatsoever, and it's dumb as hell.

And I am not being sarcastic. If this non-story tells us anything, it says that some people in her campaign should be fired for incompetence.

[rodeodance]

64. If anything-the Clinton camp should have checked out the story. Hillary was

repeating information for the deputy sheriff.


Lots like the hospital story needs to investigated.

[rodeodance]

65. “If the hospital claims it did not happen that way, we respect that.”-Clinton camp.

.....A Clinton spokesman, Mo Elleithee, said candidates would frequently retell stories relayed to them, vetting them when possible. “In this case, we did try but were not able to fully vet it,” Mr. Elleithee said. “If the hospital claims it did not happen that way, we respect that.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/05/us/politics/05woman.html?_r=1&bl&ex=1207627200&en=68723c5e35a1af24&ei=5087%0A&oref=slogin

[rodeodance]

66. The bigger story is that our Health care system is in ruins--but instead

the msm is focusing on a story--which Hillary got by heresay.
As I said it should have been vetted more carefully.

[OzarkDem]

70. Failure of health care and the death of a woman and child

are not important topics, apparently. Trying to score cheap points against Clinton is far more important :sarcasm:

[NashVegas]

68. Funy, Ain't It?

How that happens.