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In reply to the discussion: Two years ago today, America’s Profit-Driven Health Care system killed my only son. [View all]Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)My health insurance company tried twice to cancel our policy since my son was born with Cystic Fibrosis. They felt they had nothing to lose since the law says that a victorious suit would only require them to pay our attorneys fees and the medical bills per the policy.
Part of the problems a person with Cystic Fibrosis has is that the duct from the Pancreas is blocked necessitating taking enzyme pills with meals to pre-digest the food before it enters the intestine. My son for some reason seemed to need much more enzymes than normal to have close to a normal stool. Due to the effects of the disease their lungs are also susceptible to infections so they end up in the hospital a lot. Each time we had to take him in when we had insurance the doctors would always say they would get to the bottom of why he had to take so many enzymes. They would run dozens of expensive tests and a couple of weeks later when he was released they would always say that while they could not figure it out, it didn't hurt to take the extra enzymes and to keep giving them to him. Of course during the times when the insurance company was contesting the policy and we had no coverage, all of the tests, such as Pulmonary Function test which they had previously told us was absolutely necessary, were not done.
One day we could tell he was getting sick and so we drove the 60 miles to the hospital. Before we could get there he started doing very badly, it happened so fast. He lived 21 days in the hospital and died of sepsis caused by the enzymes eating (digesting) his intestine. The doctors were so busy running the same tests each time, already knowing the results to get the insurance money, that they failed to use their brains and check other things. The insurance company had us UN-insured for so long the doctors would do virtually nothing during those times but give him the IV antibiotics to get rid of the infection, nothing else.
It caused us to go through bankruptcy and rely on government aid for his prescriptions. Hillary was scheduled to meet with us during her attempt to reform the health insurance industry, but canceled as her attempt fell apart.
Doctors, remember your oath, not your wallet!
Hang in there Riqster and take things one day at a time! You will heal, but have a nasty scar. The 2 positive things I took from my son's death (it was important to me to find something) was to try to enjoy very minute of every day that I could, instead of so much delayed gratification, waiting to take a trip with the kids until ___. The other thing is that I don't sweat the small stuff. I know that unless I lose another child there is nothing bad that can really happen to me. His death really put things in their proper perspective. When I start to stress or get upset about something I stop and think about how whatever it is that is currently bad is nothing compared to losing my son 21 years ago.
Joshua Lee 7/12/1990 - 12/21/1993. Miss you little Buddy!