Man Dies After Insurance Co. Refuses To Cover Treatment

[pstokely]

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/money/6882159/detail.html
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Tracy Pierce, 37, lived a full life. He grew up with family and faith. He went to a Catholic school, got married, had a son, and he even had the car of his dreams. It was the perfect life.

"He's been strong. He has," his wife, Julie Pierce, said.

Two years ago, Tracy Pierce's life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.

"I have no treatment. Three months has gone by and I haven't had any treatment," Tracy Pierce told KMBC's Jim Flink in May 2005.

[havocmom]

1. Medical care in America = be healthy enough to work or rich enough to pay

otherwise, you die.

[Mythsaje]

2. Only the rich or stupid

oppose universal healthcare.

[PassingFair]

77. Well, those two catagories cover MOST republicans.

Add superstitious, shake, and voila!
Instant 'puke voter!!!

[f-bush]

3. this is a national disgrace

all we have in this country is blood sucking vulture insurance companies and timid meely mouth doctors who don't stand up to them.

I spent (as an infant) six months in a West German Hospital 1 of them in intensive care and the total bill to my parents for that was 14.39 in todays dollars that about 150.00 On the other hand, seven year ago, I got done with my second bout of cancer, this one in the great US (manifest destiny, individual insurance etc) and got socked with 217,000 dollars worth of fees. Wiped me out, because I was uninsuable from my first bout.

This is bullshit, every other two bit developed nation cares medically for it's people. We certainly could also. And don't give me the crap about inferior medicine. The treatment and care I got in Germany was fabulous!!!

[Greyhound]

56. A disgrace that is repeated 1000's of times every day. I hope that you

are OK now. Maybe * is so bad, and is drawing so much attention to many of the deficiencies in our country, that this time we'll do something about it.
Every time I hear one of these cases I'm reminded of the guy in LA that blew his brains out on the 105 over his Human Murdering Organization.

[f-bush]

69. Yes I am fine now

but I had to abuse the US Bankruptcy process in order to continue to get treatment. I was sent to a medium security prison for 13 months and now have a felony record because of it.

Our family went through hell on three fronts because of this bullshit and because we have a bunch of greedy motherfuckers running this country.

[ninkasi]

80. Somehow, I don't feel that you abused the Bankruptcy process

I also STRONGLY feel that the wrong person was in prison. If we are going to grant corporations "person hood", then the ones who deny necessary coverage for patients which results in patient's deaths should be tried for murder, because that's what it is.

This is an outrage, and when I think of all of the narrow-minded people who vote Republicans into office so that gays can't marry, or because they're afraid the bad Dems are going to take away their guns, I just wonder what hope we have for our country to survive.

Medical costs have soared, and even with insurance, as we see, it doesn't mean that people will receive proper treatment. Universal health care is the only answer, and it's a national disgrace that we don't have it. That speaks volumes about our national ethos, doesn't it?

I hope you continue to have good health, because from what I can tell, you've already suffered far more than most, for something that was not your fault.

[f-bush]

113. Thank you but...

the government felt otherwise. Part of the reason I feel I was prosecuted was because I ran against a popular conservative (more repuke, but dem in name only) US Congressman and got 42% in the Democratic primary. Also, I campaigned long and hard for universal health care and help move our state to a basic health system insurance for those who are unable to get health insurance. It came too late for me though. Thanks for your warm thoughts. I am very active in the anti war movement. Setting up vigils, interfaith services and town hall forums etc. Looking forward to hearing more from you-Peace-Mike C.

[ninkasi]

127. The system has been abused

but not by you. You paid the price for standing up to the conservatives, who would sell us out willingly to the highest bidder. I have little income, and so my taxes are little, but I would gladly pay double, if it meant that my fellow Americans were taken care of when they need it.

I am so sorry for what happened to you. It should never have happened in a country where the highest regard is placed on our fellow citizens, and what happens to them. I would rather live on the most frugal means, than deny my brothers and sisters their health and well being. Together, we are strong. Without each other, we are nothing. I pray for your continued health and happiness, from the bottom of my heart.

[Greyhound]

81. Wow, glad you're alright now.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Oh gosh

:cry: I can't stand this anymore. :cry:

[Blue_Tires]

5. kicked/recommended

there will be more like him in the future...

[Punkingal]

6. OMG.

What an unbelievable tragedy. :cry:

[Erika]

7. W's Un Christian America

But the bushbots will be in there pressing for tax cuts for the rich. This is so sad and pathetic that rich Americans won't even help out their own. It's more than pathetic, it's disgusting.

[SammyWinstonJack]

41. The rich should be ashamed for accepting those outrageous tax

cuts year after year while everyday Americans go without health care because of Greedy Corporations. So while they are contemplating their next luxury purchase, their fellow Americans are dying for lack of health care. Just how much would they have to give up in tax cuts in order for all Americans to be covered health wise? Or how about that over bloated Defense budget? How little would it take to fund a National Health Care plan? This country's leadership is disgusting and while millions of Americans go with out health care coverage, the members of Congress are fully covered courtesy of the taxpayers! They got theirs so screw us!

[Deja Q]

107. Key words: "Should be". In reality:

"Won't be".

They've "struggled long and hard to make it where (they are) today and should not have to pay for others' problems, but expect lots of freebies and preferential treatment because (they're) 'entitled'.)

If I put two mice in a cage with no food or water, I may as well blame the mice for not working hard enough to escape. It's the same thing.

[PassingFair]

79. Well, you shouldn't LIVE if you can't afford it...

:sarcasm:

[spuddonna]

8. This insurance company is guilty of negligent homicide...

There should be a criminal case filed against that insurance company. They could have treated that man for 15 months, but the insurance company did nothing while the doctors pleaded and wrote 27 page appeals...

Quote from near the end: "Even as he was dying, for more than a week, his insurance company denied him oral morphine, which had been prescribed to reduce his pain."

This is pure evil... :cry: I can't understand how this can happen...

[MatrixEscape]

9. Get this one:

"Even as he was dying, for more than a week, his insurance company denied him oral morphine, which had been prescribed to reduce his pain."

That's way out of line. Compassion is not profitable, hmmm?

The era of the "compassionate conservative" gives us neither.

Now if all of them were ever brought to trial for their vast and despicable crimes against humanity, I would probably be in favor of forcing them to wear hair-shirts and making them sit in chairs with taser prods all over ... just for the trial, of course.

The only God I see any evidence, for these mobsters, is the one called the bottom-line.

[nashville_brook]

99. morphine is cheap, too -- jesus!

[Blue_Tires]

10. here's the contact link for that group of humanitarians

http://www.firsthealth.com/fh_contact.html

[BlueCollar]

12. Thanks....

I just cut and pasted the article and sent it to them asking for a reason they would deny coverage

[elehhhhna]

36. They'll cite HIPPA privacy laws & not answer.

[BlueCollar]

73. I got an "auto-answer"

Thankyou for contacting us...etc etc etc. with no substance.

I'll wait a day or two and fire back saying I'm still waiting...but I'll c/c state and federal reps...:evilgrin:

[Iowa]

116. Terrific graphic! I can relate to that "needs" hierarchy.

[niyad]

13. maybe there should be pickets stationed outside their headquarters

with signs pointing out what murdering, uncaring bastards they are.

[pstokely]

27. here is their address

8320 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64114

[CAcyclist]

87. Maybe Michael Moore will put this in his film nt

[AzDar]

66. OMG! those bloodsuckers were OUR providers until Hubby changed

employers 7 months ago. I had a miscarriage in the 4th month of pregnancy, and afterward they tried to make me pay for each individual visit to my OB-GYN up until the miscarriage (rather than consider it pre-natal care with a co-pay of 15.00 each visit), since the BABY DIDN'T MAKE IT TO TERM!!!!
My dear doctor was horrified for me, and waived the charges.
It still stings to this day, the heartless, GREEDY bastards!

[Canuckistanian]

11. Manslaughter? Reckless Indifference to Life?

That's what the insurance company's CEO would have have to face, if this had happened in Canada.

AND maybe a medical malpractice suit for the doctor who made this determination to delay his treatment.

[leftchick]

35. yet another reason

to love Canada.

[Zodiak]

92. I used to work for an insurance company

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, to be specific

The "doctors" that they had on review boards are not practicing doctors. Many have had "malpractice" troubles and now serve as a consultant for insurance companies to rubber-stamp their evil decisions.

I have sat at many of these meetings, screaming at these asshole "doctors" till I was red-faced. In that room, life and death was determined, but the only principle applied was money.

Oh, and denial of coverage is the FIRST thing an insurance company does when it sees a big bill, regardless of what they are supposed to cover. The company figures that at least 50% of people would accept a denial of coverage decision. The funny thing is, they are right. Who is gonna stop them? Regulators? pleease

And remember, this is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. I will say their name directly because they deserve to be taken out of business. Evil, heartless, pricks.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

123. There was an article about that in the Science Times section of the NYT

a while back.

An insurance executive admitted that they routinely deny coverage for large bills and relent only if the doctor insists or lawyers get into the act.

[Occulus]

14. Yet another argument for the abolishment of corporate personhood

If we abolished corporate personhood, golly gee, we'd be able to throw the insurance company in jail.

Effectively, that would mean that all comers to that company in that state could be mandated by law into identical coverage provided by the offending company's competitors. Additionally, the company would be barred from doing business in that state for a period of time not exceeding the punishment for a natural human's prison term for manslaughter- if not premeditated murder (after all, the company denied care, knew what needed to be done, and flat refused to do so to save a human life).

A lawsuit, in this case, is simply insufficient, even if the company gets sued into the ground. This deserves a corporate death penalty, were there one.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. K&R I'm too fucking upset to comment.

This is disgraceful.

[orwell]

16. Thank God...

...he wasn't forced to "endure" the Canadian health care system.

USA!

(Just practicing for Torino...)

[magellan]

17. Contact page for Coventry Health (acquired First Health last year)

http://www.cvty.com/framesetdef.asp?community=member&investorRelations=Y

There's a fill in form with a comments field at the bottom of the page. Have at it! I did.

[Rainscents]

18. Insurance co is disgraceful!

I hope they burn in hell!

[raccoon]

74. They're probably the tip of the iceberg.

Betcha there are other insurance companies out there would do the same thing. Or similar things.

They aren't in business to pay out claims. They're in business to make money.

[Bjornsdotter]

19. We are the greatest

...except in healthcare, education, freedom of the press, taking care of the elderly, standard of living.

This is shameful and shouldn't be happening in a first-world country.

:mad:

[Pool Hall Ace]

50. You have that right.

I am so outraged, I could scream. :mad:

[Greyhound]

60. and don't forget infant mortality, literacy, worker protection, privacy...

[ugarte]

20. What's more, a patient is frequently denied a treatment and not told

If the insurance company says no to a treatment, not every doctor is going to inform the patient. Many times they don't want to upset the patient with the news.

[knitter4democracy]

101. Mine tells them.

He feels it's the patient's right to know and part of the doctor/patient relationship.

Btw, he practically foams at the mouth when he thinks about how much he hates the insurance companies.

[Gelliebeans]

21. I sent a link to Michael Moore

Mike is asking for people to send stories of HMO/insurance companies that have screwed people over for his next film "Sicko"

I know this won't help this man or his family but maybe his death will be a wake up call to Americans.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=193

Maybe we can generate more media for the plights of Americans brutilized by the insurance companies.

[Occulus]

22. Oh, people, if you like that story, take a look at the comments

Holy God....... I could scream, but all I'd get is cops at the door... here's one gem, right near the top:

"leetree Add to the Discussion
Covenrty Health Care of Kansas has twice Denied coverage of a Bone Marrow Transplant for our 12 year old son. They choose for him to be treated with a procedure that offers less than a 10% chance because it is in their Network instead of higher chance at an out-of-network Hospital. Speaking of cost the out-of-network hospital has a cheaper cost. Go figure."

I haven't read any more yet, mostly because I can't.

This isn't an insurance company- it's a scam.

[Bridget Burke]

55. Timing is important with regimens like Bone Marrow Transplants.

They can be tough on the body, even though they do offer the best hope for some diseases. Once the cancer has advanced & the body is exhausted from other treatments, the chance of success from BMT is far less. By then, the patient may be medically unfit for the treatment--or they just die. Treatments like this must also be given at hospitals with a proven track record, even if they are "out-of-network."

Insurance companies & HMO's fight hard for cheaper treatments. Big hospitals have whole departments dedicated to squeezing out the money. If treatment decisions could be made on a medical basis alone, a lot of bean counters would be out of a job.

This man is not the first to die for corporate reasons.

[xmas74]

133. I wonder if that's the case from my town.

We've been raising money for a twelve year old boy who has been twice denied by Coventry for a bone marrow transplant.
If it is, his mother insured him through her work but they still need $100,000 to cover the rest.

[wiley]

23. This happens an estimated 8,000 times every day

Insurance companies have great PR machines that try to hide the fact that they decide coverage based on actuarial figures (how long people typically live, how long a person with x or y disease typically lives) and only rarely change their decisions based on public pressure. Unsourced comments (hallway talk among people in the biz) is that they'll be using the more conservative figures to determine eligibility for care. The Republicans KNOW this is exactly what happens as they cut benefits.

They want families to spend their life savings for medical care and treatments. They just do not believe they owe the people of this country anything more than encouragement for thirty years of work when they can extract the most productivity and revenue. People buy more products during their higher earning years. This is class warfare and it is genocide.

We need to start a quilt like what was done when the AIDS crisis was still in its infancy. Have each family or community or church make a panel representing a person who died based on insurance company or government malignant neglect. Tour around the country with it. In one or two years it could cover the entire DC area.

How could anyone vote for a CORRUPT REPUBLICAN?

God help us all.

[midnight]

26. A visual Aid.

This would help people see with their own eyes the horror that is shuffled and put away in files. My husband is a R.N. He deals a lot with homeless patients.

[Fovea]

24. Universal Healthcare

All the *civilized* nations have it...

[madmark]

25. the story reads like the matt damon pi movie; that family now has

a breach of contract, bad faith, and wrongful death cause of action against the insurer.

[CrazyForKucinich]

32. The Rainmaker?

Yes, quite a good movie.

[Pushed To The Left]

28. This man was murdered by his insurance company

Those responsible for the denial of his treatment should be in prison where they belong. This is absolutely inexcusable.

[EFerrari]

29. Kick

[REP]

30. There Is Little Treatment for Renal Cancer

It's sad but true; it's pretty much a death sentence.

[Greyhound]

57. Yes but that is not an excuse (if you meant it as one) n/t

[qanda]

64. Why do you say that?

Several types of cancer can develop in the kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form, accounts for approximately 85% of all cases. In RCC, cancerous (malignant) cells develop in the lining of the kidney's tubules and grow into a mass called a tumor. In most cases, a single tumor develops, although more than one tumor can develop within one or both kidneys.

Early diagnosis of kidney cancer is important. As with most types of cancer, the earlier the tumor is discovered, the better a patient's chances for survival. Tumors discovered at an early stage often respond well to treatment. Survival rates in such cases are high. Tumors that have grown large or spread (metastasized) through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body are more difficult to treat and present an increased risk for mortality.

http://www.urologychannel.com/kidneycancer/index.shtml

Perhaps I'm missing something, but if it's not treated then of course it's a death sentence.

[REP]

128. 11% 5-Year Survival Rate for Stage IV (Robeon)

A morbidity rate that has remained unchanged for nearly 40 years, that's why. (42% for Stage III, but with lung mets, that's stage IV.)

No, I didn't see the part where they denied him oral morphine; the KC site require registration and I get enough spam already.

[chalky]

72. Did you read the part where they even denied him oral morphine?

Now THAT is crap. "Death sentence" or no, denying the man painkillers is beyond amoral.

[Appalachian_American]

31. Wasn't this a John Grisham novel?

The insurance company was delaying treatment and waiting for the person to die.

[Solon]

34. Yep, the Rainmaker...

Made into a movie with Matt Damon in it, about a bankrupt lawyer who is landed a case, on his lap, just days before passing the bar, where the insurance company delayed treatment to a leukemia patient and wouldn't pay for the bone marrow transplant that their own policy said they should cover. The patient died, and they sued for millions, the jury awarded enough to bankrupt the company.

[Skidmore]

33. A disgrace.

I personally believe that the Ponzi scheme that passes itself off as an industry should be elimated. I believe that, more than any one group, the insurance industry is responsible for a lot of what is wrong with pricing in healthcare. If you need insurance for a catastrophic event, that is one thing, but they should get out of the business of brokering prices for routine stuff like strep tests and so forth. They should also be barred from participating in the investment and banking industries as well.

[BushOut06]

37. Would a national health care plan be any better?

After some negative experiences with HMO's - where I'll go to a doctor, they'll poke around a bit, take my temperature, and give me some glorified aspirin - which I could have done myself and saved the copay - I have to admit to not being very optimistic about health care in this country.

My fear is that if we do wind up with a national health care plan, that providers will be under the same pressure to keep costs low.

[OzarkDem]

42. Yes it would be different

Specialized care like oncology (cancer treatment) is different from general practice/preventive medicine. With more targeted therapies, oncologists have a better idea of what will work.

[BushOut06]

43. Another pet peeve - would dentistry be covered under national health plan?

Oh my, I could really go on a :rant: about this one. Several years ago, I had a wisdom tooth that was going bad, and was causing me excrutiating pain - so much so that I'm surprised I didn't die from the overdose of pain pills I took trying to get rid of the pain. Fucking dentist wouldn't even do a goddamned thing because I didn't have any insurance, and would have had to pay $$$ upfront. The only thing he would do is give me a prescription for antibiotic, which did take care of the pain but didn't do anything for the underlying problem - I still have the occasional toothache to this day.

It pisses me off that if you don't have good dental insurance - and many jobs don't offer that - then you are basically SCREWED when it comes to dental procedures.

[raccoon]

76. I don't think so. I don't think the UK does either.

I agree with your last paragraph.

The condition of a person's teeth, especially when he/she's well into middle age, is pretty dependent on his/her socioeconomic status.

And it really bites. (pun intended.)

I wonder if any dentists, endodontists, etc., aren't taking in as much money now that dental insurance through your work is becoming less and ess common.

[BushOut06]

84. Why shouldn't dentistry be covered under regular health care?

This is where I usually really go off on a rant. The mouth is part of the body. What happens in your mouth can significantly affect the rest of your body - decaying teeth can cause infections, which can spread.

You don't have to get separate health coverage for the respiratory system. or the circulatory system. You don't have to get dermatology insurance. Every single part of your body is covered by health insurance except the mouth and eyes - which makes absolutely no sense to me.

[raccoon]

129. You got a point there. I never thought about it.

One time on DU, somebody said insurance companies don't cover eyes and teeth because people are so likely to have problems (i.e. costing the companies money) with them.

The poster said it better than that--if anybody has insurance experience, feel free to chime in.

[FlaGranny]

86. My hubby and I have a joke about dental care.

He buys lottery tickets on occasion and we always say, "Gee, if we win we can get our teeth fixed." Or "If we get our teeth fixed, there won't be anything left over for anything else."

[BushOut06]

130. I've said that many times myself

If only I would win the lottery, I could finally afford to get my teeth fixed.

Sucks, don't it?

[CAcyclist]

91. I pay cash for my dental care

Having a wisdom tooth pulled isn't that expensive. You can shop around if one dentist is too expensive - I had one abscessed and impacted tooth pulled for $295 total cost - and that was in California. Dental schools offer reduced cost care,too.

I don't blame the dentist for not providing care without upfront cash. I'll bet you had no intent to actually pay the bill if he pulled your tooth first, otherwise you would have come up with the money. Do you think dentists are able to exist on air and that they don't have expenses to cover themselves? Do you think the dentist's landlord is just going to forgive his rent bill because his patients didn't pay him? Why do you think you should take money out of this man's pocket?

Insurance should be for care that might cost more than you could ever hope to pay for. Dental care is more comparative to a car. You don't carry insurance for mechanical failures for your car, you just pay for the tune-up, the timing belt change, whatever.

edited to add: Which is not to say that I would not want dental care added to a universal health plan - definitely an ideal plan would cover dental, eyes, mental health.

[FlaGranny]

103. For some reason, about 30 years ago

I had no trouble going to the dentist without having dental insurance. I was always able to pay fairly easily for anything my dentist did. Now, in the last 15 or 20 years there is no way I can afford going. I have dental insurance, but the last time I went for a cleaning they insisted on using some implantable medicine in gum pockets which woudd up costing me $400 for one side. I was supposed to go back for the other side but didn't have the money. I never did get my teeth scaled and cleaned. All I can afford to do is get them pulled when they go bad. I'll have to get false teeth if and when most of my teeth go. I can get an entire set of false teeth for about the same price as a root canal and a crown on one tooth. I hate it, but what can I do? Going to the dentist costs me more now, with dental insurance, than it did years ago without it (comparing dollars then to now).

I've never considered myself poor, but I've been priced out of healthy teeth, and my HMO will see to it that I don't get the excellent care I could receive if I had big bucks and the best insurance coverage.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

124. You need a new dentist

Mine charges only $95 for a cleaning. She charges $1000 for a crown but gave me a break when I told her I didn't have dental insurance, so it cost me "only" $800.

[FlaGranny]

131. I hope

you're kidding. ;-) The $400 I described was 20% off and AFTER the insurance copay. My insurance pays 100% for a normal scaling - free to me. Crowns cost me about $500, root canals about the same. I'm on Social Security - I cannot afford those charges.

[OhioChick]

95. Speaking of dental coverage.......

Try getting any medical or dental insurance to cover TMJD for you. Most states don't mandate coverage. I have a kid that has this disabling disorder and have spent tens of thousands of dollars over a short period of time........and he's not well yet. I have decent insurance, but they refuse to cover it.

The above story makes my stomach turn. I hope that someone has sent that link to Michael Moore.

[Greyhound]

59. That's why most of us that have tried to reform this mess go with the

single payer model that we tried to get in CA. It doesn't change anything regarding the actual practice of medicine, just sets the rates that will be paid for a given procedure/item/treatment. Of course there will be abuses and the penalties for it must be meaningful, but with a central payer database spotting abusive patterns will be much easier to catch. Bad news for the insurance industry that will spend hundreds of millions to defeat it.

[raccoon]

75. Ask someone who has no health insurance. nt

[OzarkDem]

38. Cancer patients are really hurting these days

You know all the miracle breast cancer drugs that are changing medicine and preventing disease from returning? With the new changes to Medicaid and Medicare, many low income breast cancer patients can't get them any longer and are relapsing like crazy.

I've seen it happen to two women in the last month. At treatments costing $1,500 ro $4,000 a month, they can't afford medicine so cancer comes right back. In some cases, doctors are refusing to provide care because they patient can't pay.

Its very sad and hard for them to deal with, knowing they could live if they had more money or insurance.

[converted_democrat]

44. My FIL is going to die from cancer, and it's needless...

He has 4th stage melanoma, and he has been taking part in an experimental vaccine procedure that works.. It stopped the melanoma in its tracks.. When he started the program they promised us that if all went well (the product worked) they would be able to secure more funding for the program and keep it going.. The vaccine works, but the patient has to take more than one dose to keep the results going.. His cancer has not grown at all since he started getting the vaccines.. Since it does not work on a one dose basis, they say it isn't "working." It is working, the patient just needs more than one dose.. Now the group can't get anymore funding and the experimental group will be over in a couple months.. His doc says that he'll have approx. 3-6 months of life after the last vaccine has been given.. (based on the rate of growth of the cancer pre- vaccine..) The vaccine saved him, if they could just keep the funding up they could keep him alive.. As long as he can keep getting the vaccine he can live, but they are cutting funding anyway.. It's such a sad situation.. We found something to save him, and now they are taking it away because of a lack of funding.. We thought we had lucked out, and that he was going to be saved.. Jack has to wake up everyday now and know the death sentence he faces.. He gets two more vaccines and then its over.. They could have kept him going indefinitely, but instead they are giving him a death sentence..

edited to make clearer..

[Greyhound]

61. I'm so sorry. n/t

[jackstraw45]

67. Is it the ONCOPHAGE vaccine?

Sorry to hear about your FIL....

[converted_democrat]

89. I have not heard that term before..

So I'm not sure if that is it or not.. All I know is that they harvested a tumor from him, and mixed it with his own skin cells, and other matter, then they inject it back into him.. You can only have the procedure done if you have a tumor the size of a golf ball or larger to make the vaccine doses from, and you can only use your own genetic matter..(In other words, they couldn't use his tumor to make a vaccine for someone else..) I don't think this is an experimental drug, as much as it is a process.. Does that make any sense? All I know is that they are primarily using his own genetic matter to fight the disease. Some how this procedure is classified as a stem cell procedure, though I don't know exactly why.. All of the genetic material that they are using is from his own body, so I'm not sure why it falls under the classification of stem cell. (I always thought that stem cells meant cells from someone else.) Also, something else that I thought was strange is now Jack is considered a "genetic mutant." When his doc said it I thought it was a joke, but he made it very clear that it was not a joke.. Whatever this procedure is, does, or did..Jack is now classified as a genetic mutant because of it.. (I also found out that if he had been of child bearing age he would not have qualified for the procedure..) I've tried asking questions to the people that administer the shots to him, but they are not at all forth coming with info, and the doc that is responsible for his care made him sign 20 sheets of documents stating that he would not sue no matter the outcome of the procedure..

[knitter4democracy]

102. Amen to that.

It's disgusting. My hubby's office is having a fund raiser for one of their nurses who's getting chemo now and barely making it financially (they gave her most of the Christmas gifts and have been helping as much as possible).

There was an oncologist in the Cleveland area who had to retire early a couple of years ago when they upped his malpractice by $42K with no warning one year. His patients raised the money with fundraisers and all, so he kept going for another year. The next year, the company upped it by $46K. He retired early, pissed as hell. Even the AMA reported that one in their AMNews.

It's so unbelievably disgusting.

[CornField]

39. "lived a full life" my ass

That just pisses me off. How dare a journalist make that assumption? In the US, a full life is 70 years or more, not 37.

[0rganism]

108. The reporter was just "rounding up".

The life is half full, right? Optimism springeth eternal in the land of the corporate apologist.

[The Backlash Cometh]

40. I just want to know, did they vote for Bush in both elections?

[Bridget Burke]

52. You're just assuming they did?

Here he was in an earlier stage of the disease.



www.thekansascitychannel.com/health/4429327/detail.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

85. If I had assumed it, I wouldn't have been asking a question. Ergo the"?"

I was hoping we'd find someone who was illuminated by the experience. Looking for the pony in the pile of crap we've been handed.

[librechik]

45. somebody send this to Michael Moore!

he's looking for medical insurance horror stories

[tlsmith1963]

82. I Was Thinking the Same Thing

This *has* to be in his next film! If anything will outrage people, this story will.

Tammy

[LynnTheDem]

46. What kind of nation lets its own people die from lack of $ for treatment?

God help America.

Please.

[esvhicl]

47. Respect for life? N/T

[burythehatchet]

48. ...and here's a litle tid-bit that you may or may not be aware of

If her insurance was secured through her employer, ERISA law prohibits her family from suing the insurance company or the medical provider.

[lonestarnot]

49. Sonofabitches!

[Lars39]

51. These greedy assholes even denied him morphine?

CEO needs a prison sentence, and that's the nicest thing I can type. :grr:

[Gormy Cuss]

63. That's the part that is without question inhumane.

They can dance around their actuarial tables all they want on the cancer treatment but refusing to pay for drugs to ease his pain in dying should be considered criminal.

The CEO needs to have intractable pain for about a week. Then he might see things differently.

[Lars39]

68. Well, that would be a start. (re: CEO)

[wicket]

53. "Outside it's America, outside it's America"

n/t

[brainshrub]

54. American health plan = Don't get sick. (eom)

[MsUSA]

58. This is just so wrong.

Compassionate conservative my ass.

[KansDem]

62. Now with GOP legislation, the insurance company cannot be sued.

Do I understand this correctly.

Didn't the post-2000 GOP Congress pass legislation to protect insurance providers in case "mistakes" led to death? Or does that only apply to HMOs, doctors, or hospitals?

Where was the Schiavo-type GOP outrage about Mr. Pierce? Where was the emergency Congressional session to address his plight? Where was Mr. Bush?

There is no excuse for this!

[Scout1071]

65. I briefly saw this on the news last night. He died 2 hrs after

the interview.

So sad.

[mmonk]

70. Free market.

Invisible hand.:sarcasm:

[YOY]

71. "Parasite Economy"

The Insurance industry is a joke. The 'product' they offer is non-exportable, non-alternative, and supports a primative system that violates basic human rights. Top it off with the fact that their methods of marketing are unethical (100% commision sales) and you have what I refer to as a "parasite industry". It servers no purpose except to leech off the public who have no other choice.

Regretfully, they are holding up a significant portion of our economy and workforce...a sickening portion. That is why I say together with massive financial institutions and numerous other industries that serve little or no purpose we have a "parasite economy"

[raccoon]

78. The US needs a national health plan and isn't going to

get one until the people DEMAND it.

[FlaGranny]

88. That's right, except

insurance companies put out millions of dollars a year to convince people they wouldn't we able to get treatment if we had national health care/single payer. People fall for it. Evil, blood-sucking leech bastards.

[pitohui]

83. the insurance company had enablers

the doctor and hospital could have given the treatment and billed the insurance co. later or even the family

one evil industry didn't kill this man, it took an entire complex of industries working together

the hospital could have certainly spared the morphine, it is cheap enough and was produced with civil war era technology so don't tell me there are still patents on damn morphine


i don't think anyone involved w. this is showing in a good light, including the wife, if worst came to worse, why not take out a home equity loan and then declare bankruptcy after the husband's life was saved?

now if there was never any treatment that would have saved his life and she wasn't willing to bankrupt herself for a lost cause, ok

but it took more than just one insurance co. to kill this guy, they were all in on it

[FlaGranny]

90. My mother was under

the care of an oncologist, who, in my opinion is a saint. Hospital nurses and office staff maybe don't think so, because he can be really tough on them, but everything comes down to the patient's welfare. Anything that interfers with that, he gets really pissed. He told my mother not to worry about anything - that if she needed anything that Medicare would not pay for, he would see to it himself that she got it. No matter how much of a bully he is with staff, he is compassionate and sweet with his patients and their famliies. I love that man. I don't know how someone like him can handle caring for dying patients on a daily basis. As I said, he's a saint.

[Lars39]

94. You can't take out an equity loan if you don't own your own house.

[pitohui]

96. two working people in their 30s, in kansas?

housing is cheap there, no reason they shouldn't owned their own house, a point is made that the husband owned a "dream" car

i could see that argument being made in california or another place where home ownership is impossible for the middle class but in kansas? fuck, i know people who have moved from louisiana to kansas because the housing is so cheap in the midwest!

there is more to the story

and it still don't excuse the doctors and hospital not even providing a cheap drug like oral morphine

it wasn't just an insurance company pencil pusher who killed the guy, that's my point, they were all in on it

i know people whose doctors have continued their care even tho they recognized that the insurer had denied payment at first and it would be months or years (i know of a case where it took 2 years) to get payment from the insurer

the doctors who refused treatment killed the guy just as dead as the insurer and for the same reason, the allmighty dollar

[Lars39]

97. They may not have wanted to own one. Not everyone does.

[pitohui]

100. well maybe they could have sold the dream car?

in any case, no matter how poor their financial planning, i'm still not excusing the doctor and the hospital

one paper-pusher didn't kill this dude, it took a lot of people to kill this dude

[proud2BlibKansan]

115. No housing isn't that cheap here

Home ownership is just as impossible for the poor here as it is for them all over the country. Your implication that our housing is "cheap" is insulting.

And hey, why don't you write your congress critters and ask for a law requiring doctors to treat patients for free when insurance companies refuse to pay?

:rofl:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

125. That's right, if they'd just followed your all-knowing advice

they'd be fine :sarcasm:

How do you know what their life circumstances were?

[Ilsa]

93. This needs national attention because it is a national disgrace. eom

[Straight Shooter]

98. "It's God's will ..."

So say the bushie fundies, because Lord knows nothing will ever happen to them. :eyes:

[Nutmegger]

104. How much money did they save?

Couldn't save a life but they'll get worked up just to save a little money.

[0007]

105. R.I.P.

This is totally unacceptable. The country that preaches brotherly love turns their back on this man that needed help? I am ashamed!

[xmas74]

106. I live close to KC and watched the report on channel 9.

We have a story in my town right now too. We have a 12 year old boy who was diagnosed recently w/ leukemia. He needs a process performed(I think it was called a double cord bone marrow transplant but I'm not exactly sure) and his families insurance company has denied their claim. The entire town is trying to raise the over $600,000 it will take to allow this young boy to have a chance to live.
No family should have to depend on the kindness of strangers in order to give their child a chance to live.

[proud2BlibKansan]

120. That kid's story was on Channel 9 tonight

Same insurance company - Coventry. But it turns out that his mom can get insurance through her employer that will pay for the bone marrow transplant. He leaves Sunday to get treatment in Minnesota.

They also had a letter from a Coventry executive. Turns out the employer was self-insured which means they wrote their own policy - which forbids experimental treatment. But the letter didn't explain why this man was denied morphine. That was inexcusable, IMO.

[xmas74]

132. He does leave Sunday

but, according to the organizations in our area, he still needs over $100,000 for what the insurance will not cover.
And they way they treated the other man was inexcusable. And I can tell you this-Coventry would not pay for my c-section w/ my daughter either since I didn't have prior permission. I had to pay that bill.

[cascadiance]

109. "Culture of Life" at work here!

:eyes: :sarcasm:

[0rganism]

110. Paging Michael Moore, Michael Moore to Kansas City, STAT!

The scam pulled on gullible America by the medical insurance racket is disgusting and vicious.

[in_cog_ni_to]

111. Population Control. Gotta make room for all those WHITE fetuses to be born

:grr: Don't doctors take The Hippocratic Oath?




The Declaration of Geneva reads "AT THE TIME OF BEING ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION:

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE myself to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I WILL GIVE to my teachers the respect and gratitude which is their due;
I WILL PRACTICE my profession with conscience and dignity;
THE HEALTH OF MY PATIENT will be my first consideration;
I WILL RESPECT the secrets which are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
I WILL MAINTAIN by all the means in my power, the honor and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
MY COLLEAGUES will be my sisters and brothers;
I WILL NOT PERMIT considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, or social standing to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I WILL MAINTAIN the utmost respect for human life from its beginning even under threat and I will not use my medical knowledge contrary to the laws of humanity;
I MAKE THESE PROMISES solemnly, freely and upon my honor."

[Free the Press]

112. Anyone see The Rainmaker?

Not exactly the same circumstances, but a compelling story of Insurance company greed at the expense of the insured.

[entanglement]

114. WTF!

[proud2BlibKansan]

117. Same station doing another story tonight about same insurance co

denying treatment to 12 year old with leukemia.

[OzarkDem]

118. Cancer patients are the canaries in the coal mine

Many of us saw this coming 3 or more years ago. Cancer statistics usually lag 2-3 yrs. We've already seen the beginning of a "flattening" of death rates. In a few more years when statistics are ready for 2004-2005, you may see an increase in mortality for some cancers, strictly because of lack of health care.

[proud2BlibKansan]

119. Post your comments on this story

Some of these comments are heartless. Most, thankfully, are not. The wife is posting here too.

http://forums.ibsys.com/viewmessages.cfm?sitekey=kc1&Forum=41&Topic=11953

[UrbScotty]

121. Bush = NOT Pro-life (nt)

[SPKrazy]

122. 20% Profit Margins

High paid CEO's
layers and layers of bureaucrats
loopholes if you don't "follow the rules to a 'T'"

This is the insurance industry's fault to the greatest degree.

They are in it for the money.

Non-Profit insurance companies are the only answer.

Someone needs to start one, but the political pressure to not do it will be hard to beat.

If one starts, though, it could easily overtake all other companies, or other new companies that are non-profit would start.

Lower costs, no stockholders to answer to, (boards of directors yes, but no stockholders)less micromanagement, less bureacracy, better care.

Large pools of insured lives make costs cheaper.

We spend twice as much as any other industrialized country on healtcare, yet we are ranked at about #37 in quality.

We spend tons of money on healthcare, and shit like this story happens!!!!!

SHAME on them

[Lydia Leftcoast]

126. I'm angry at the Democrats for not running with this issue

This is NOT 1992, when most people who had insurance were satisfied with it. (I was, although I understood the need for national health care).

This is 2006 when nearly everyone in the country either has or knows someone who has an insurance company horror story.

Those companies are vultures. They put out sweet, warm, and fuzzy brochures with doctors giving lollipops to little children, but if you really need them, watch out.

"Vote for a Democratic Congress, and never worry about health insurance again."

But in the MSM, national health insurance is one of those topics that is out of bounds. You see articles about "health care reform" and it's all about health savings accounts (a rip-off for anyone who can't afford to pay twice as much for less care), mass purchases of drugs, and electronic sharing of information.

Single-payer health care is never mentioned.