DEO
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Posts: 12
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 8:33 am Post subject: UPDATE ON DUMPED PATIENTS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXARKANA, TX <
>Patient is in Baltimore and is due to return to Texarkana later this month. FMC (in Louisiana) will provide home hemo for the patient.<
><
>In a letter from ESRD Network of Texas, DEO was informed that there were no vacancies at RCG Clinic in the Texarkana area. However, DEO had been informed, upon referral from RCT's corporate office to its regional office, that there were openings in the dialysis clinic but that it was up to the Medical Director to accept or deny patient's admittance into the clinc. As of this time, DEO has received no response from RCG's Medical Director as to whether or not outpatient services will be available. If the patient is denied service by RCG, this will constitute a lockout in the Texarkana area.<
><
>OAKLAND, CA<
>FMC has agreed to dialyze patient at one of its facilities; however, no Bay Area Nephrologist will write a dialysis prescription. The patient is still, therefore, required to dialyze in the hospital on an emergency basis only -- only when his medical conditions has deteriorated to a point of health crisis.<
><
>Court case is filed and pending on this dumping.<
><
>PUBLIC AWARENESS<
>The next phase of our public awareness campaign has begun. Contacts are being made with elected/public officials and state survey agencies. The media campaign has also begun. Contact has been made with a national evening news magazine to encourage needed and greater public exposure regarding patients' rights in dialysis facilities. And, in the case of the Oakland patient, DEO interviewed with San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune newspaper reporters. Reporters indicated that they will contact CMS and patient's attorney in follow-up on DEO's information.<
><
>CMC<
>As usual CMS, with full knowledge, failed to help in these matters regarding dumped patients. It appears too much time continues to be wasted before CMS or ESRD Networks will come to the aid of patients. CMS has made it clear that physicians can dump patients for no cause. In the case of the Oakland patient, we have been waiting since past Thursday for CMS to help. To date, NOTHING.<
><
>We are still waiting for CMS to take these dumpings and patients' rights seriously. It appears that the longer these dumpings continue with government's full knowledge and lack of action, patient lives and rights continue to be violated. All patients' rights are in jeopoardy. It's time to realize that CMS can change this situation tomorrow if they wanted. They have not answered the call for help. Only made promises. Lives continue to be lost and patients continue to be fearful.<
><
>DEO
ought concerns regarding the dialysis industry to the government's attention 5 years ago. After 3 federal investigations, Senate Hearings, promises which have not been kept, and excuses for the industry's behaviors and failures, WE ARE TIRED OF PROMISES AND WANT ACTION.
**********************************************************
Worker Bee
Joined: 29 Oct 2002
Posts: 28
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:24 am Post subject: How many more?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How many more patients must be condemed to die with the full knowledge of CMS? These Nephrologists are dumping patients, blacklisting them, and then banding together to shut them out of other clinics that are owned by other companies. <
>Maybe these patients need to find lawyers to sue for libel on their behalf? <
><
>Which ever way you look at it, this is an American Holocast, funded and overseen by CMS/Medicare, the very ones who should be protecting the American Citizens. Cancer patients would NEVER be treated this way! Why do they allow this to happen for a federally funded treatment? <
><
>Not only do we want answers, we want action. <
> <
>HOW MANY MORE PATIENTS HAVE TO DIE WITH THE FULL KNOWLEGDE AND APPROVEAL OF CMS? :">
**********************************************************
patient
Joined: 29 Oct 2002
Posts: 137
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 12:25 pm Post subject: dumping
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
i know the adverage person can not relate to this. the adverage german could not relate to the death camps there in world war2. turn to FYI and read dialysis in the USA. if i was not a patient i would not understand. you have to be on dialysis and have inadaquate treatment to understand the hell the dumped patient are going through. to be under treated is lihe the worst flu you have ever had only ten times worst. the treatment a dumped is like taking a person and almost starving them to death and taking them to the gallows and giving the a bite of
ead and saying not today but maybe next day. if we are going to kill a number of parient lets do it quick and easy. do it like they do when they put to death a criminal. put them to sleep and give them KCL. no pain .
**********************************************************
Mad
Joined: 08 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2003 11:21 pm Post subject: Not worth the price
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mad I am. How could this happen? Why is it happening? Does this make the govt responsible? Can we sue?<
><
>the more I hear the more I realize they do not care.
**********************************************************
leadsag
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 263
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 3:50 am Post subject: Govt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As long as the treatment of dialysis patients is a 'secret' the Government will do nothing for the patients. When medicare coverage for dialysis started there were few patients and the patients did not live that long on dialysis. Now patients live longer(I believe longer if NOT on re-use) and there are more patients so the cost to the govt. is large. Currently the elected officials are more concerned with getting additional contracts to Haliburton and paying off other favors than worrying about how dialysis patients are dumped. There needs to be exposure in the media. Not just talk of upcoming things, not talk of upcoming marches, not talk of flyers being handed out. There is enough evidence, we don't need more patients dumped to make the story better, we need action. Just my opinion
**********************************************************
wondering
Joined: 23 May 2003
Posts: 7
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:08 am Post subject: Refusing to provide treatments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would acts by physicians or units such as that described fall under collusion or racketeering. What do lawyers say.
**********************************************************
Board Watcher
Joined: 09 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 10:58 am Post subject: Published Article
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought a reporter was doing a story on dialysis. When is this going to appear in papers?
**********************************************************
Watcher also
Joined: 09 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:58 am Post subject: Article
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, how many more examples of dumped patients does the writer of the article need before it is published?
**********************************************************
FYI
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 1:43 pm Post subject: Reporters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are totally right, a reporter has been working for a year and a half. He is doing a documentary, articles and a book. Plus attorneys have been educated through the journalist.<
><
>We need to stop the dumpings from happening in Oakland and
in Texarkana, this had to be handled before the expose comes out. The dumped patients are being handled now by the local newspapers and others.<
><
>Time is soon, as will be the announcement of lawsuits. It appears that CMS has been aware of these dumpings and still have not done anything to protect these patients.<
><
>It also appears that without a doubt that the lockouts in these areas are also bordering rackateering. It is soon, but had to have other reporters do the dumpings, as well as having to orchestrate the demonstrations with another organization. <
><
>Arlene
**********************************************************
leadsag
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 263
Posted: Tue Sep 09, 2003 11:43 pm Post subject: other reporters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do we have copies of the articles that the local reports have published, or are they just "working" on articles? <
><
>Do these local papers have websites that we can follow the story on?<
><
>
**********************************************************
FYI
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 5:29 am Post subject: Newsarticles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The reporters were only contacted this week, in support of the patient in Oakland. We have secured places for the other two that we were working on.<
><
>The patient in Oakland has a place to dialize, only to date NO physician will write a dialysis prescription. That is why the reporters were called locally, as his date is on Sept 25. National Action Network have secured the talk show that is out in the Bay Area. We will be waiting for a date closer to the court case, to air on the radio.This patient should be supported by all of us. It could be any of us. This gentleman is a former school teacher, and are currently asking for the Teachers Union to come out and support. The reporters are working directly with the lawyers, we gave them the background on how this industry works and information. We will support the lawyer and the patient,the reporters were contacted just a few days ago,they will be working on this story.<
><
>You will be notified when this will be coming out. <
><
>Arlene<
><
>Shame on DaVIta. It appears to what we see coming through here at DEO, they are the leaders in dumpings.
**********************************************************
they
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2003 6:17 am Post subject: ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
took the title from gam
o?
**********************************************************
Curious
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 39
Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2003 2:01 am Post subject: Gambro also dismisses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
dismissals and patient contracts are the mode.
**********************************************************
Get your name in
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 2
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:43 am Post subject: Names to be forwarded to the Senate Finance on WED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What you say to the investigator will be between you and them. Just email your name and phone number and the best time for them to reach you.<
><
>Fear will cripple you. This is about as safe as it gets. Some patients want to just talk to journalists. This is also another choice. However, you need to do something or forever hold your peace.<
><
>You need to speak out and not expect others to do it for you. You as patients have no rights and until you speak out, it will continue. It is your choice.
**********************************************************
Get your name in
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 2
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 7:44 am Post subject: Names to be forwarded to the Senate Finance on WED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What you say to the investigator will be between you and them. Just email your name and phone number and the best time for them to reach you.<
><
>Fear will cripple you. This is about as safe as it gets. Some patients want to just talk to journalists. This is also another choice. However, you need to do something or forever hold your peace.<
><
>You need to speak out and not expect others to do it for you. You as patients have no rights and until you speak out, it will continue. It is your choice. Its now or never.
**********************************************************
Marty
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 160
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:04 am Post subject: Finance Committee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where do we e-mail or phone numbers and e-mail and tell them the best time to reach us?
**********************************************************
Email
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 2
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 12:27 pm Post subject: Send the phone numbers to the following
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL to arlene@dialysisethics.org<
>360-604-4440<
>We are sending them up to the hearing, as our patients are the ones that will be testifying. So we forward your numbers to them
