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I'm a nice guy who doesn't believe in eternal damnation (that eternal is a long time!). I believe in the road to redemption for many people. And lately I've become concerned about a couple of our favorite billionaires: Charlie Munger (99 years of age), and Warren Buffett (92 years of age). I’m wondering if they should be tying up some loose ends at their age.
My concern started when I saw their Berkshire Hathaway company held a huge share of davita, the huge kidney dialysis company (40% last I looked - though only a tiny part of the Berkshire portfolio, less than 1% from what I understand) - I’ll give some background and then why I’ve worried.
I've been well acquainted with davita since the year 2000 when my daughter was in a dialysis clinic (transplant now). My experience with kidney dialysis peaked in 2007 when I helped head-up a group that got a bill for the certification of kidney dialysis techs passed (renewed in 2012 and 2019).
What surprised and concerned me about Berkshire being involved in davita was the fact I would think Berkshire would check out the "product" better. I can tell you what we've been seeing: just the numbers and John Oliver and friends. With davita less than 1% of the Berkshire portfolio I thought this must just be some sort of oversight! But then I became aware of this. Huh, besides a long line of former kidney dialysis patients waiting for Mr. Munger and Mr. Buffett in the hereafter there maybe others lined up behind the dialysis folks! It looks like they may have some explaining to do! (thank you Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) I don't think their absentee-owner, denial-of-culpability act may play as well in the hereafter.
So how can we help these dear unfortunate souls who may have gone through a good portion of their lives with blinders on? I say we encourage Mr. Munger and Mr. Buffett to put the dialysis field of medicine back to the way it was! It was a group of many small clinics - the big for-profits have proven they can't handle too much power!
They have been guilty of:
- using underpaid, under-trained, overworked staff (staff used to be mostly nurses vs. mostly techs now)
- shortening of treatments
- a multitude of scandals- among them having had the Highest Mortality Rate in the industrialized world! (again the numbers) And unique in medicine for having had rising mortality (2nd post) All for sky-rocketing prices!
So please sign this petition! It can be taken to the ‘Save the Billionaires’ Walk’ on May 6th and presented to Berkshire at their event. Feel free to show up at the Walk! Strike a blow to change this country back from “We the corporations of the United States” to “We the people of the United States”! I have my one share of Berkshire (B) for entry, so I'm sure I'll be treated like royalty.
#More Info
- 'Save the Billionaires' Walk' updates
- BillionaireRedemption Blog
- 2007 Colorado state bill pushed by a group headed up by this DE member for the certification of kidney dialysis technicians (renewed in 2012 and 2019)
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The large for-profit dialysis companies like DaVita and Fresenius don’t actually compete – just stake out their areas, like a utility. So oversight is needed for a vulnerable population! According to reliable sources, the oversight provided by the national ESRD networks has been less than stellar.
One source of information about the national ESRD networks was provided by Dr. Kenneth Bays, a patient rep on one of the networks. He actually wanted to help improve things and didn’t want to be there to protect the poor abused clinics from the patients! So he got tired of being stymied and he quit. He then provided testimony at the US Senate in 2000 and helped found the organization DialysisEthics. This is an area of medicine where choice is severely lacking for a vulnerable population – people didn’t choose to get sick and there is little to no choice when it comes to doctors and clinics, you get what you get. You can see the results on the Home page.
#More Info
- 'Save the Billionaires' Walk' updates
- BillionaireRedemption Blog
- a spiritual brother, gritty fighter, and inspiration to fight to the end: Brent Smith at the 2000 US Senate hearings
- 2007 Colorado state bill pushed by a group headed up by this DE member for the certification of kidney dialysis technicians (renewed in 2012 and 2019)
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Before Trial, James Hearing:
'Keep Kent Thiry happy': Prosecutors air statements of alleged DaVita conspiracy in court
Trial:
Groundbreaking criminal trial of Kent Thiry and DaVita takes off
'Tell-your-boss' mandate at center of witness testimony in DaVita trial
DaVita case heads to jury: 'There's not a bro code exception'
Have to wonder if the jury had seen much of what is on this site if the outcome would have been different. It seems Mr. Thiry managed to present himself as an upstanding citizen (there seem to be some doubts). So it seems DaVita can continue to collect employees like birds in gilded cages - or retaliate against wayward workers.
Acquittal and not the first brush with the law
History - Prior Lawsuits:
Denver-based DaVita settles case on overuse of kidney care drug
quote from message thread: "Unlike not-for-profit dialysis centers, which reduced doses of the anemia drug Epogen after they reached recommended hematocrit levels, for-profit centers continued to increase doses, sometimes to three times that of non-profit centers." "Why is this important? High doses of Epogen and similar drugs can lead to increased risk for death, strokes and heart attacks in kidney dialysis patients, which is why the FDA following the study issued a black box warning to advise doctors that they should use only the lowest dose necessary."
Jury awards $383.5 million in GranuFlo-linked patient deaths
"According to the complaints, the dialysis provider “failed to inspect and review the composition of GranuFlo and noticed changes, and DaVita should have noticed a significant upswing overall in bicarbonate blood levels when patients returned for dialysis treatments,” the firm said. “DaVita ignored many red flags that preceded the loss of life of these three patients and many others,” Rob Carey, lead trail attorney, said."
Davita Wasted Drugs to Make Big Money Off Medicare
As an example, this is what our tax dollars were used for: "instead of giving an entire 100-milligram vial of the Venofer iron drug once or twice a month, DaVita clinics gave 25-milligram doses more frequently, according to the lawsuit. But since the drug came only in a 100-milligram vial, Medicare was billed for 100 milligrams for each dose, even though 75 milligrams were wasted".
DaVita Whistleblower David Barbetta’s Story (DaVita paid out $400 million)
"DaVita whistleblower David Barbetta alleged in a qui tam case that DaVita paid doctors hidden kickbacks as a way to get patient referrals for its dialysis clinics and to reduce or eliminate competition from other dialysis centers."
Davita HealthCare Partners Announce $495 Million Whistleblower Settlement
Besides wasting Venofer, an iron supplement, as pointed out previously this article points out Zemplar, a prescription Vitamin D supplement was also wasted. And this article also nicely summed up many of DaVita's lawsuits over the years: "In addition to the Vainer and Barbir case, DaVita has settled two additional whistleblower lawsuits, including a $55 million settlement in 2012 regarding double billing for the anemia drug Epogen, and $389 million in 2009 regarding kickbacks to kidney doctors for patient referrals. DaVita also paid $22 million to settle related claims throughout five states."
Death of Betty Allen
"Over the years, as the for-profit industry started to get involved in dialysis, there were big changes ... unlicensed technicians or uncertified technicians instead of nurses," Ferriter says. "It has become more impersonal. When you think about it, it's the same principle as an assembly line."
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Book Recommendations
The books on either side of this page are books that have been recommended by us and some of our members, click on the images and links below them for more info.
Poignant Moments
Written by one of our early members about his experiences as a caretaker of his loved one. The book also mentions the early days of DialysisEthics.
Sorrow's Reward
This book offers snapshots of life in a dialysis clinic and many, many of the people found there - maybe you recognize somebody! Recommended by one of our longtime members, Richard Goodenbour, Rest in Peace Brother!
Conception of a Dialysis Patient (the untold truths)
Fayton Hollington is an award winning Published Poet with three completed novels, a number of screenplays, and two sitcom pilots. His book covers his ordeals starting with Lupus at the age of 12 on through kidney failure and dialysis.
Hear him on Dialysis Advocates' blogtalk radio
Expert Tips on Becoming a Dialysis Technician
Cassia Ann (Hill) is a state certified expert hemodialysis technician, preceptor, teacher, coach, access champion manager, and speaker. This book is loaded with powerful insight on how to be a professional hemodialysis technician in any circumstance.
