[cougarnurse]

Sad story; really sad. Teen dies after transplant funds nixed - Yahoo! News
What do you all think?

[cougarnurse]

Now they are talking lawsuit: Lawsuit promised in transplant case - Yahoo! News

The HMO stated transplantation is not an option for leukemia patients because the immunosuppressant drugs "tend to increase the risk and growth of any tumors,"

[vickiroberts]

The hospital should have done the transplant with or without the insurance coverage. After the transplant then file suit to make them pay. The hospital failed to prioritize. I blame the hospital first.

[cougarnurse]

Actually, the family blames the HMO: Calif. family blames HMO in girl's death - Yahoo! News

To be honest, transplants are a huge chunk of money, and to go ahead and do this without prospective payment? Hard thing to swallow.

[ICUruthie]

I guess this is the one good reason about living and working in a socialistic country- noone is denied because of MONEY! This is such a sad story!

[cougarnurse]

Playing Devil's Advocate right now......remember the fact she had leukemia. the treatment destroyed her liver in the first place... why would a transplant agent assign another liver? If a far better canidate got the liver and lived isnt that a better outcome than both of them dying?

[gracie1]

I really do feel bad for this family, but I'm afraid of the potential fallout of lawsuits like this. We already work in a lawsuit happy enviornment. We already have to think "what if this case goes to court" so often when we chart. Do we really believe the trial lawyers are bringing these suits out of the goodness of their hearts? Will the result of this case be that insurers will approve treatments that are not wise, for fear of a lawsuit and bad publicity? I have cared for so many patients who's families cannot accept the fact that their loved one will die. While Hope essential to life, false hope is cruel. I don't know the details of this case. But I get the feeling that the family was clinging to false hope.

[cougarnurse]

Gracie, I agree whole heartedly. Just read a murder-mystery (part of a series) that included an HMO getting sued up the butt. Involved a high risk pregnancy, yada yada. When I can, will post the books title.

'Cat'