Need the comrades help

[LETSFIGHTBACK]

I don't know if any of the comrades would be interested in this, but I would like your help. It will also shed a light on,and further confirm how sick, depraved and murderous this system is.

My mom was rushed to the hospital in April of 2007. She was told a week later that the tests showed everything was fine and released. Three months later she was rushed back.

In July she was rushed back in with stomach pain. The ER Doctor told us she had cancer. She passed seven months later.

During the next year, I was always thinking about this, because in my gut something just wasn't right. So I faked a power of attorney and got her medical records.

I had found that in April when she was told that everything was OK, the Radiologist told her three Doctors she had cancer.

I called her three Doctors to ask why she/we we're not told the results of her tests. One would not come to the phone. He finally did after I threatened to come into his office and confront him in front of his patients.

He said that "it wasn't his responsibility to tell me, it was her primary care Doctor". Her primary said, "he didn't see any purpose since she was going to die any way".

I called lawyers to file a law suit.Here's where capitalism rears it's ugly, murderous head. They said, "she was old, she didn't work and her life wasn't worth as much as a young persons".THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING.EVERY LAWYER.

They also said "it wouldn't be "profitable" to bring it to court since the amount of money that it would take would be the same amount we would get in a settlement.

The lawyers also said that this is not uncommon. I called Temple University's senior advocate law department. They stopped me in mid sentence and said "I know what you are going to say, and we hear this constantly from families".

Since seniors are no longer "producing", since they are on Medicare as their primary, HMO as their secondary, couple this with the fact that Doctors only receive 80% from medicare, and they do not like how much they are compensated by the HMO's, that's why many Doctors stopped accepting it.

They then see caring for them as a waste of their services and time. It isn't profitable,So let's bump them off. And doctors know that NO lawyer will take on these cases, WHY? because it isn't "profitable".

And all the lawyers said it, they agreed, They see a covert movement in the medical profession to knock off seniors that are on Medicare and HMO's. They are viewed as a drain on the system.

Here's where you come in, Do you know of anyone that this happened to, or any site that talks about this issue. I tried Googling, nothing extensive.

I tried talking to organizations that work with/in senior centres, they are all tight lipped. Thanks for your help and for listening.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I don't know if any of the comrades would be interested in this, but I would like your help. It will also shed a light on,and further confirm how sick, depraved and murderous this system is.

My mom was rushed to the hospital in April of 2007. She was told a week later that the tests showed everything was fine and released. Three months later she was rushed back.

In July she was rushed back in with stomach pain. The ER Doctor told us she had cancer. She passed seven months later.

During the next year, I was always thinking about this, because in my gut something just wasn't right. So I faked a power of attorney and got her medical records.

I had found that in April when she was told that everything was OK, the Radiologist told her three Doctors she had cancer.

I called her three Doctors to ask why she/we we're not told the results of her tests. One would not come to the phone. He finally did after I threatened to come into his office and confront him in front of his patients.

He said that "it wasn't his responsibility to tell me, it was her primary care Doctor". Her primary said, "he didn't see any purpose since she was going to die any way".

I called lawyers to file a law suit.Here's where capitalism rears it's ugly, murderous head. They said, "she was old, she didn't work and her life wasn't worth as much as a young persons".THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING.EVERY LAWYER.

They also said "it wouldn't be "profitable" to bring it to court since the amount of money that it would take would be the same amount we would get in a settlement.

The lawyers also said that this is not uncommon. I called Temple University's senior advocate law department. They stopped me in mid sentence and said "I know what you are going to say, and we hear this constantly from families".

Since seniors are no longer "producing", since they are on Medicare as their primary, HMO as their secondary, couple this with the fact that Doctors only receive 80% from medicare, and they do not like how much they are compensated by the HMO's, that's why many Doctors stopped accepting it.

They then see caring for them as a waste of their services and time. It isn't profitable,So let's bump them off. And doctors know that NO lawyer will take on these cases, WHY? because it isn't "profitable".

And all the lawyers said it, they agreed, They see a covert movement in the medical profession to knock off seniors that are on Medicare and HMO's. They are viewed as a drain on the system.

Here's where you come in, Do you know of anyone that this happened to, or any site that talks about this issue. I tried Googling, nothing extensive.

I tried talking to organizations that work with/in senior centres, they are all tight lipped. Thanks for your help and for listening.

Essentially, the lawyers are right when they said "they hear this all the time by families", because it does happen all the time. There are so many different accounts of families losing their loved ones due to lack of care within the professional business of healthcare. My mom almost became a victim to this where they kept doing tests on her trying to figure out what was wrong, but then we didn't take it anymore & told the doctors we weren't going to leave until they found out something. "Coincidentally", the doctors then eventually found cancer in her colon. After surgery & months of radiation, she got back to normal. But there are others that weren't so lucky. So I'm sorry to hear for your loss, but really, until capitalism is taken out of the picture, this will continue to happen no matter what.

[chegitz guevara]

One would think the AARP would be up in arms about this. Oh, right, they make most of their money of advertising for insurance companies now.

[Leonid Brozhnev]

I don't usually rage over other people personal stories but that kind of shit is just pure evil. Such is the nature of capitalism, I feel sorry for you and other Americans in your position. It still baffles me how can people defend or justify this shit simply for profits.

[Raúl Duke]

story

I'm not sure I want to get old in America than with its horrid for-profit health care (or even have a family).

[The Douche]

You know, shit like this happens all the time right now, but right-wingers are all up in arms about state provided healthcare and "death panels" and how old people won't get the medical attention they need.

Yet the reality is, the state would mandate health care for seniors, but right, its just not profitable. But good luck convincing teabaggers of that.

[Magón]

I'm not sure I want to get old in America than with its horrid for-profit health care (or even have a family).

Vamonos muchacho! To Cuba, with good healthcare and nice beaches! :thumbup1:

[leftace53]

I am terribly sorry for your loss. Like others have mentioned in this thread, and your recounting of your experience, things like this are not uncommon.

Healthcare is in the shitters around here it seems. My father recently had somewhat of a similar experience (yet they still don't know what is wrong with him), where doctors either gave him no information, or gave him false information. I have my own qualms with incompetent doctors who didn't treat my health issues properly the first time, and I had to go in multiple times for something which I later found out could have been done right the first time.

I feel that part of the problem is that doctors are paid an insane amount. Yes they are dealing with lives and whatnot. Yes they go through like a billion years of schooling and whatnot. Yet still, many doctors are motivated to go into the profession because of the money. I mean really, would you want your life to be in the hands of someone who tries to save lives because they want to, or because it pays for their mansion and housekeepers?

I understand that capitalism has turned something as basic as life into another pursuit for profit, I just don't understand why the workers stand for it.

[Steve_j]

Comrade, im sorry for you loss and as much so the circumstances surrounding it.

I know very little about relative organisations in the states that could be of help but from reading what you have said perhaps i can suggest one avenue to persue if all else fails.



The lawyers also said that this is not uncommon. I called Temple University's senior advocate law department. They stopped me in mid sentence and said "I know what you are going to say, and we hear this constantly from families".

Perhaps you could try network with these families, find existing or past cases that could/have prove fruitfull, learn from others experience and most importantly fight together. It will no doubt in many cases mean putting politcal differnces aside, but none the less you all want the same justice.

To be honest i have very little experience in campaigns starting from sctratch, and certinally nothing of this magnitude but im sure there are plenty of people on this board that can offer advice and more so local organisations working in differnt areas that would be more than capable of dispensing some advice to help you get on you feet.

I hope someone can come up with something more immediate but none the less if you think this route is an/ or the option then lets us know.

[LETSFIGHTBACK]

I've found a Reporter that is interested in doing a story on it. That's to all the comrades for their responses.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I've found a Reporter that is interested in doing a story on it. That's to all the comrades for their responses.

That's great comrade! Best of luck, definitely.

[Ele'ill]

Why would the doctors do this?

[McCroskey]

until capitalism is taken out of the picture, this will continue to happen no matter what.

I agree with this, but the case of the USA is beyond belief. I mean, even though we live in capitalist Europe, we still have universal, free, socialised healthcare. The last thing you think of when you are sick in Britain, Spain, Portugal, France, etc, is the money!

I think Europeans are really having a hard time to understand all the fuss about universal healthcare in the US. We cannot understand why half the population is against it. In Britain they are trying to half privatise it, and still are very reluctant to say it openly, because it would be widely opposed. And the rejection of universal healthcare as "socialist" by a big chunk of the US population would be laughable if it wasn´t such a serious problem.

Capitalism IS the problem, but this really takes the cake. By pure chance, just before reading this threat, there was on TV the episode of Friends where Joey loses his health insurance because he hasn´t worked enough that year, and cannot get a hernia operation because he has no money. For a european, that´t something beyond our understanding. You have a hernia, go to the doctor, get surgery, go home. Obviously there are things that fall out of the national insurance, as certain medicines, and some of it is run basing on, not profit, but cost, but overall the national health systems in europe are quite competent and provide a good service. Americans really need to get over the red scare and stop seeing social services as the anthitesis of the "american way of life", and if it is really the case, then you should get another way of life, not just in the revolutionary way, but even within capitalism, because people are dying because of this.

Sorry to hear what you went through. My thoughts are with you. Keep up the good work and get this injustice properly denounced.

[The Vegan Marxist]

I agree with this, but the case of the USA is beyond belief. I mean, even though we live in capitalist Europe, we still have universal, free, socialised healthcare. The last thing you think of when you are sick in Britain, Spain, Portugal, France, etc, is the money!

I think Europeans are really having a hard time to understand all the fuss about universal healthcare in the US. We cannot understand why half the population is against it. In Britain they are trying to half privatise it, and still are very reluctant to say it openly, because it would be widely opposed. And the rejection of universal healthcare as "socialist" by a big chunk of the US population would be laughable if it wasn´t such a serious problem.

Capitalism IS the problem, but this really takes the cake. By pure chance, just before reading this threat, there was on TV the episode of Friends where Joey loses his health insurance because he hasn´t worked enough that year, and cannot get a hernia operation because he has no money. For a european, that´t something beyond our understanding. You have a hernia, go to the doctor, get surgery, go home. Obviously there are things that fall out of the national insurance, as certain medicines, and some of it is run basing on, not profit, but cost, but overall the national health systems in europe are quite competent and provide a good service. Americans really need to get over the red scare and stop seeing social services as the anthitesis of the "american way of life", and if it is really the case, then you should get another way of life, not just in the revolutionary way, but even within capitalism, because people are dying because of this.

Sorry to hear what you went through. My thoughts are with you. Keep up the good work and get this injustice properly denounced.

Though, from what I've heard from fellow comrades over there, the European healthcare system is being attacked with well funded propositions to try & privatize them. Is this true?

[McCroskey]

Though, from what I've heard from fellow comrades over there, the European healthcare system is being attacked with well funded propositions to try & privatize them. Is this true?

True. I can only speak for the UK and Spain. In the UK, the new Lib-Con coalition wants to basically remove the NHS from goverment control. Roughly it will still be a public service but it will be "sanitised", meaning that they want to get rid of "waste", ie non-cost effective practices, treatments, etc. They want the hospitals semi-free, but run by private health organisations, who would in turn be controlled by an unnacountable board of 500 GPs (who by the way are not entirely happy with the imposition of administrative work to their primary care work). This private health companies would offer their services to the NHS, and they would, in theory, still be free hospitals, but they would own the hospitals and equipment, so it can be run as a business to improve efficiency. In Spain they are not so radical, because, unlike the UK, there are some things that even average pro-capitalist citizens consider sacred and independent from the market, and one of them is public health services. So the Spanish goverment is introducing some changes, like "copago", which translates as "co-payment", which means that you would pay a symbolic amount every time you go to the doctor (like 1 euro), to avoid unnecesary visits :blink: (stupid thing that would create difficulties for the poorest). Another change is the dosification of prescripted medicines, so where before you would get a whole packet of the pills you need, now you will only get the exact number you need for your treatment.

But my point is not these capitalist attacks on universal free care. My point is that in Europe, they have to try and do it through the back door, because socialised healthcare is defended by all citizens left and right. That´s why I said that we cannot understand half the population of the US being against it. And even if they privatise the services in europe, they cannot (at least for the foreseeble future) turn it into a full profit-making enterprise, where citizens have to pay for it and if you don´t have money you are screwed up, or deny treatment to any citizen basing on age, previous conditions, etc. The party who dares to do so, would be signing their electoral death sentence, and not just in a reduction of votes, but in a HUGE opposition from the population.

In the USA, it seems that it would be entirely possible to base your electoral campaign in the opposition to a socialised free health care system. In europe, it´s just not possible. That´s why it´s shocking for us.

[LETSFIGHTBACK]

Why would the doctors do this?



Well here's the choices under this sick, psychotic greedy system, if you have no insurance, you die. If you have government insurance ie Medicare, and a corporate run insurance for low income people ie HMO, the Doctors don't like how much the HMO's compensate them for their services.

So the Doctors stop accepting it. But they have to in emergency situations, ie the ER or Hospital admissions. To answer your question, Seniors have more Doctors visits, more Hospital admissions and take more medications.

That is more money being paid out, none coming in.So Doctors see people like seniors as a waste of their time and services.

[LETSFIGHTBACK]

Well here's the choices under this sick, psychotic greedy system, if you have no insurance, you die. If you have government insurance ie Medicare, and a corporate run insurance for low income people ie HMO, the Doctors don't like how much the HMO's compensate them for their services.

So the Doctors stop accepting it. But they have to in emergency situations, ie the ER or Hospital admissions. To answer your question, Seniors have more Doctors visits, more Hospital admissions and take more medications.

That is more money being paid out, none coming in.So Doctors see people like seniors as a waste of their time and services.


To add, I have had Doctors turn my mom down because she had Medicare. They did not like the fact that it only paid 80% and they did not accept the HMO for the other 20%.but like I said, they are forced to in emergency situations. So what do they do? BUMP THEM OFF buy acting like they "made a mistake". And they know that no lawyer will take the case because , as they said, "they were old, sick and they were not the bread winner.So, they have a license to kill.

I just hope that I will live long enough to see this virus called capitalism eradicated from the face of the earth.