How would you like to be a patient at THIS hospital?

[popazz1]

Sorry,I don't understand the term 'futile care'! I see videos like this & I thank god we have a National Health Service in Britain.Free medical care 'from cradle to grave' was it's motto when it was created in 1948! However much it's resources have been stretched down the decades due to many reasons,not least the high cost of hospital management,it still,in the main,offers good quality care.How we disregard our elderly family members though is a total shame!

[Raquel66688]

It's pathetically sad how the insurance companues and most doctors don't rally care how the patient is or what's really wrong,they just want to make sure they get that money.

[weldon0m]

your GOD will make the final decision...

[Progo35]

I think that this should be clear from other comments I've made, but when I say that the law saves the state money, I'm not endorsing that process, I'm saying what is going on. Futile care laws are disgusting and must be stopped!

[13svincent]

what a bitch!!!

[valinall]

How little you know. She is being firm and forthright, and perhaps a little hypocritical with the religious references. Families do drop off their sick, aged relatives at hospitals instead of dealing with the reality of dying and suffering. This is wrong. When the family abdicates its responsibility, it no longer makes decisions, and the physician, hospital or even the state has to step in and make choices. And it is not just about money, it is what is ethical and just.

[superbooks7]

Right Progo, however, people should not be "going on to glory" in order to save the state money. When hospitals can make those decisions against patient's and against family's wishes, then this is not freedom in USA, and it is not right for the hospital to make that decision.

[MakiCaiman]

There is not enough evidence to say the hospital was acting wrong. Patients with end-stage illnesses, for example, do go home with Hospice care. A hospital is not a place to die; it definitely isn't a place to abandon your relative that is dying. The family does have to make a decision. I see nothing wrong but an irresponsible family.

[NuttyPope]

Furthermore, if the medical team decide that its time to stop then maybe its time to stop. Keeping someone alive when there is no hope is in my view a selfish act.

[NuttyPope]

Decisions like this are extremely problematical and necessitate complete co-operation between the patients, his/her family (if required) and the multidisciplinary team. However, there may come a point where the hospital (and the families) have to make decisions that will ultimately terminate the patients life. I believe that this decision, along with the patients previously (or current) wishes, have to taken into consideration.

[onenewbeginning]

Was that person working for Woodhull Medical center in Brooklyn, NY or was that from a different hospital?

[mx3man]

Sick...this must be american...wow, I'm glad to be canadian. It's a shame the things people have to put up with in other countries. Free health care for us! woohoo

[jaxkipi]

People that just dump their family members off at the hospitals for the hospital to foot the entire bill is not fair. We loose millions of dollars to some of these people who don't step up to the plate and help with their family. It's not about the patient here, it's about the family. Millions of dollars lost for a hospital means less available money to care for other patients that need it too. Not fair.

[futilecare]

It doesn't matter how much insurance you've got available, nor how much you paid for it. Nor does the patients' health matter. They just need to be able to sell the "futile care" label. What's really not fair is the insurance companies' taking your money then not following through with their end of the bargain. If you don't think the insurance companies are really the engine behind the whole futile care movement, you'd better stay away from hospitals till you educate yourself.

[jaxkipi]

I'm a nurse and I agree with EMT, but I find this call as being inappropriate, rude, and could have been handled differently.

[Progo35]

EMT and Jaxzkipi-

Maybe we should put you in the hospital and force you to have an abortion, be deprived of food and water, or die from kidney failure. You probably wouldn't be so cavalier about this issue if you were the one dying or having your autonomy railroaded.

[jaxkipi]

I understand your point. I really do. There are people that ligitimately need help and have no where to turn, but there are others you don't take the responsibility for their loved ones and their medical bills. Making the hospitals foot the bill is not fair. Where I work, there are some family members that do this. And if you listen to this, it's not about the patient...it's about the family members and their irresponsibility.

[EMT0556]

The hospital has every right to do this and they need to! I have been in healthcare administration for a few years now and have seen this more than once. People do not want to accept responsibility for their own problems. By keeping persons in the hospital who do not need that type of care, you are essentially holding care for others. This woman may be a little harsh, however she is doing what is right.

[futilecare]

How very easy it is to discount the PATIENT'S rights when it might cut into the hospital's profits (so what if they enjoy non-profit tax status!) Not that I would expect anyone in the healthcare industry to understand about patients rights. As Upton Sinclair said, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."

[futilecare]

Well, I certainly wouldn't expect a hospital administrator to see any problem with treating a patient this way. Most probably wouldn't see a problem with dumping patients in skid row like they do in Los Angeles. Such is the compassion of our "world class" medical care in this nation. The unthinkable has become routine treatment.

[Progo35]

This is the kind of CRAP that is being allowed in our hospitals. People should be ashamed of themselves.

[futilecare]

Yep, and people think it can't happen to them or their loved ones...until it does. We all need to take action BEFORE it happens. Check your own state for similar laws. If you live in Texas write your representatives and senators in Austin and tell them to protect patients' rights by amending section 166.046 of the Advance Directives Act in the Public Health Code.

[PA65000]

Many socialist black women fill secretarial positions in many hospitals an particularly Veterans Administration hospitals in cities such as Orange New Jersey and Philadelphia. The term "have a blessed day" is not actually a religious term but a street term implying anti-white sentiment.

[IIllIIllIIIlIIIllIlI]

PA65000 - So we meet again. Still hating? This woman is merely following orders. She's a sec'y and has no authority, you hate-mongering idiot. you racists, anti-semite pigs make all whites look bad. stop hating and the world would be a better place.

[kalacaw]

I know all about this.

[txbluebonnet]

Can't believe the brevity and audacity of that woman who truly lacks compassion and sounds more interested in being a bill collector. Even if the family has procrastinated for a while, they certainly don't deserve treatment like that. I hope that they fire that woman!

[futilecare]

Disgraceful, but legal. Not much success during this legislative session to change the law. Guess hospitals haven't murdered enough innocent people yet. It's not only the ones who can't pay that get murdered--my sister had full medical coverage and the hospital still tried to kill her. Insurance companies now own our medical care--it's all about profit now. Spread the word about this law, PLEASE! And thanks for your comments.

[txbluebonnet]

You are sooo very welcome. I have posted the information on my blogsite... IWIM :)

[IIllIIllIIIlIIIllIlI]

futilecare - i have family in america, and they say if you're an illegal, you get the best care for free! your country is screwed up! we have socialized meds. i haven't been sick yet, but i don't think it's very good. you have to wait too long to see your doc.

[drakkette]

WHAT???? Can we say lawsuit?? That's clearly harrassment!

[futilecare]

In Texas, the futile care law shields doctors and hospitals from civil and criminal liabilities-they can kill a patient against his will as long as they follow the law. Doctors say Texas is leading the way for the rest of the nation with this law. If we change it, other states will follow suit. Forget civil rights, if you get sick enough in Texas, you don't have ANY rights. You can find out how to change the law at texaspatientrights dot org

Thanks for your comments.

[AmericanRican]

I normally dont respond to things in a vulgar way but PLEASE...With your permission and forgiveness move the kids away from the computer for a few minutes while I vent...READYYYY???

MOTHERFUCKERS! I iwhsed they did that to my DAD, I'd be breaking a fucking Law and faces.

[jaxkipi]

AmericanRican-It was not right for this person to leave a message like this on their answering machine. Obviously not professional. At the same time, if the family surrenders the responsibility by not responding to the needs of the patient, then the state has every right to assume custody of that person and therefore making decisions in their behalf. It sounds like this family member may need guidence (sp) from a case worker with a bit more professionalism. BUT there are 2 sides to every story.

[Progo35]

"if the family surrenders the responsibility by not responding to the needs of the patient, then the state has every right to assume custody of that person and therefore making decisions in their behalf"

The family was responding to the needs of the patient by continuing his treatment for a kidney problem. The 'needs of the patient' do not include being dead due to kidney failure. You're either assuming that the health care worker's position is right or/and that the patient's family's isn't.

[AmericanRican]

I thought she was a BILL COLLECTOR myself txbluebonnet

[jaxkipi]

There are 2 sides to every story.

[Progo35]

In short, the family was taking care of the patient, just not in the way the hospital thought was best-allowing him to die. The state does NOT have the right to make death-causing medical decisions on behalf of a patient when the family chooses to sustain life.

[Progo35]

Finally, health care workers chose the job they're in. If they don't want to deal with the difficulty of maintaining a patient's life support system against their personal opinions, and dealing with difficult family members in the process, they should find another occupation.

[jaxkipi]

Obviously you are aware of more to this story than what the video tells. I'm not here to argue with you. The video doesn't talk about what you are talking about. What else happened?

[futilecare]

You are obviously unaware that in Texas, the hospital and doctor get to make these decisions, regardless of the patient or the family's wishes. The other side of this story is INSURANCE companies' profits! Don't be naive--this will soon be the norm.

[jaxkipi]

I agree with you. You are arguing with yourself.

[Progo35]

The man had kidney problems that required dialysis. The family chose to continue dialysis when the hospital felt it should be discontinued to allow the to "go ahead on to glory," as the health worker on th tape says. The hospital invoked Texas' Futile Care Law, aka the Advance Directives Act, which allows doctors to stop treating patients against their will/their family's will, when the doctor feals that the person's life has lost its quality/a terminal condition cannot be cured.

[Progo35]

That is what happened. The hospital was trying to use the law to go to court and get guardianship of this patient, on the premise that the family had chosen treatment that was "inappropriate," ie, treatment that sustained this man's life. The family, very likely, was either on Medicaid/care or was paying themselves. All the people who have been subjected to this law thus far in publicized cases were paying or having their bills paid for by a governmental program. The law saves the state money.