Dear Dorothy,
I read an article Health Biz: Malpractice caps not enough on
www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/nw/nw004804.php3 .....Please take a
moment to read my story of what happened to my best friend...my mother....
My mother in 2002 had an x-ray done and the findings of the x-ray showed the
beginnings of interstitial lung disease with reticular densities. Prior to that she
had been complaining of breathing problems and not feeling well since 2002 and the
only treatment she would receive would be to go to the lab for an infection. On
November 8, 2004 after demanding an x-ray her primary care doctor, at an HMO
hospital in CA, the primary care physician sees there is a problem and sends her on
for a CT Scan, he then forwards her on to a pulmonologist and on November the 15th
the pulmonologist tells her, after reviewing the x-rays, that she has 2 - 3 months
to live because she has cancer. No other proof to make this statment to her and
places her on oxygen.
On November 24th 2004 the pulmonologist orders a needle biopsy and the same
pulmonary Doctor of this HMO establishment lets my mother leave the hospital knowing
she had Extensive Pulmonary Edema, knowing she had an ENLARGED HEART, knowing she
was in HEART FAILURE and DID NOT TELL ANY OF US ABOUT HER CONDITION or my mother.
On November 26, I spoke with the director of Pulomongy at the HMO facility who
informed me that my mother looks to have cancer but does not inform me of the
findings either of Extensive Pulmonary Edema, enlarged heart and my mother in
immentent heart failure from the x-ray taken on 11/24/04 as well as an EKG done on
11/8/04. I also spoke later that same day with the pulmonary doctor who is handling
my mother's case and he never informed me either except to say he thought she was
dying from cancer with 2 - 3 months to live.
The needle biopsy performed on November 24 was inconclusive on finding Cancer and
the chest x-rays taken the same day shows massive Pulmonary Edema, enlarged heart
and that my mother was in heart failure immenent heart failure. No treatment was
ever given except for oxygen for her shortness of breath. Non of us new how
critally ill she was. None of us knew, my father, my sister, my adult daughter, me
or more importantly my mother, None of us. We knew something was very wrong but did
not know what it was except for the possiblility of cancer.
My Mom, was supposed to go into surgery on Monday, December 6th 2004 only after my
fighting with the facility to move her up for almost a month and to have her be seen
by an oncologist who on November 30, 2004 the Oncologist, at an HMO in Roseville, CA
saw on the 2002 x-ray of my mother's saw the beginnings of the interstitial lung
disease and told my mother "that was where it all started" and my Mom cried out "Why
didn't someone call and tell me? Why? (as they live in Redding and come down to the
Sacramento facilities of this HMO for quality care). The oncologist then refers her
to a Thoracic surgeon who will pull out a node and the outcome most likely is cancer
but he can tell us what kind it is.
On 12/1/04 my mother again sees her pulmonary doctor at the Sacramento HMO (at this
point she is in a wheelchair; never needed one before in her life) and he still
tells her her lungs are clear. She see another doctor for the surgery to be
performed on 12/6/04 at the Roseville HMO and he has her take an EKG and the
findings from that are abnormal!!!! So from 11/8/04 my mother's lungs are filling
up with gunk (Pulmonary Edema) and her heart is enlarging due to overworking to get
air in my mother's lungs because of the Massive amount of Pulmonary Edema that is
accumulating and slowly drowning my mother and she is dying, she is in heart failure
and still no action is taken. No one tells my mother; my father; my sister nor my
adult daughter. No one.
My mother was admitted into the ER at Shasta Regional Medical Center, Redding CA on
December 3, 2004 just two days after leaving her HMO hospital where the Doctors
informed her that her lungs were clear and she was admitted for Extensive Pulmonary
Edema, Enlarged Heart and in Heart Failure, the Dr. who saved my mother's life
immediately started her on diuretics and then on Monday the 6th performed a non
invasive procedure to find out if my mother did have cancer and what type and within
a half hour we knew that my mother has advanced Pulmonary Fibrosis complicated with
the secondary condition of Stage IV Lung cancer which has rapidly spread through her
body and in her bones and if that was not enough they found a brain tumor two weeks
ago.
My mother, my best friend has stopped chemo on Monday February 7, 2004 as more
tumors have been found on her brain and the chemo she currently was taking failed
again.
Had this HMO informed my mother back in 2002, my Mom would not be dying today but
her doctor never called, so she had no chance, no choice, no advice, no help; not
then and not in 2004 between 11/8/04 - 12/1/04.
It amazes me and disgusts me at the same time knowing that at least 8 different
doctors from this HMO saw or confered with each other about my mother and all of
them knew she was in heart failure; all of them knew she had Extensive Pulmonary
Edema which was causing the enlarged heart which was causing her heart failure and
chose not to tell her or any of us; chose not to treat her; chose not to admit her.
What was my mother's choice? Where was her chance? How come she did not get help?
This could have been prevented and treatment could have worked and cured my Mom had
she been given the chance; the choice back in 2002.
But hey the HMO wants to run us through like cattle and make money, not do their job
of preventing and helping and upholding their Hippocratic Oath of taking care of the
patient first. And I am not saying all doctors are like this, as I have a great
doctor who is not part of this HMO organization but this HMO organization seems to
be encouraging this type of nontreatement from their doctors.
MICRA caps are an incentive for these bad HMOs to not be afraid, give the doctor
bonuses for achieving low costs and not providing quality care to the seriously ill
and who cares about a measley $250,000 when they get billions per year in return?
Who cares.....I Do!!
I have all the records and x-rays to prove it and my mother's wishes are that this
not happen to another person again. This HMO is taking money and not treating the
seriously ill. This HMO also has my mother and father's Medicare A & B as well as
the payment from my father's county retirement plan. That is fraud as they are not
providing quality care as directed by Medicare nor insuring the rights of every
individual to have and receive quality health care in a timely manner as stated on
California's Department of Managed Health Care website under Patient's Rights.
It's also criminal to not treat my mother since 2002 and tell her about the lung
disease and the doctors aware that my mother was critically ill ignored that fact
and that between 11/8/2004 - 12/1/2004 she had extensive pulmonary edema which
caused the enlarged heart and they knew she was in heart failure from the edema and
chose not to treat her. My mother was reduced to a wheelchair by that time of
11/24/04 and the Drs. would not treat her or admit her for it even through December
1, 2004. Can you imagine..8 different Doctors knew!!!!
These bad HMOs are here to collect the money and not to treat the seriously ill. I
have the proof to prove what happened to my mother and an admission from the HMO in
writing of an apology to me for missing the 2002 x-ray and not informing my mother
of her lung disease.
Laws need to be enacted to protect individuals and health care organizations need to
be accountable for the neglect. Reform needs to happen and I want an investigation
into the neglect and mishandling of my mother. I have Durable Power of Attorney on
both of my parents who have authorized me to proceed and tell my mother's story.
Because of them my Mother, my best friend, is dying and she is only 73 and I
promised my mother that it will never happen to another family again, not on my
watch. I'll go before congress, the senate and wherever someone will listen. This
has to stop. It could happen to you next..or your
mother..brother...father...sister....daughter..truly this has to stop and California
needs to repeal the MICRA cap or increase MICRA from the measly $250,000.
Bush touted the 1975 California law that imposed caps on non-economic damages to an
Illinois audience and they should follow California example??....its not something
to be proud of...really its not. Other states be warned and Don't follow
California's lead as it will hurt you in the end as I and my family are speaking
from first hand experience of what an HMO can do to you and your loved ones and how
it affects the whole family.
Just who made these HMOs god?
Sincerely,
Jane ****
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