Treatment Often Waits on Insurance While Patient Dies

So, I called the hospital, and asked what if a person had a form of cancer considered very treatable, yet while waiting for treatment they became so weak they could not hold up the phone to talk to someone, would that person be treated if brought to the emergency room?

I was told the hospital would do nothing but what the doctor prescribed, and the doctor was limited in how fast he could prescribe treatment by how fast the insurance company would authorize it.

So, a person's life deteriorates before our eyes, even fades toward death, while we wait for paperwork?

We have made great progress with cancer. Many forms have become very conquerable. Yet our ability to get the patient treated timely enough to keep them alive remains . . . abhorrent. To think we have a treatment, and can save a person, and time is of essence -- and yet we schedule things days and even weeks away.

I cannot believe we do such a thing -- or cannot believe we do not change it. Of all things in health care reform, this is something we surely can and should do something about. Why don't we?

I think of the words, uttered by a lady who, while waiting for treatment, seems to be dying. She spoke of a neighbor who had cancer, saying words to the effect, "They scheduled treatment for him, but he fooled them. He died before the treatments."

I say as soon as you suspect it is cancer, you start them fasting for the ultrasound. You do the ultrasound within a day, and you do the biopsy the same day. You read the biopsy that same day, and you begin treatment that same day.

Emergencies should be treated like emergencies. Lives should be given every effort to be saved.