Teen Dies After Transplant Funds Nixed
Found on PhysOrg on Thursday, 20 December 2007
A 17-year old died just hours after her health insurance company reversed its decision not to pay for a liver transplant that doctors said the girl needed.
Doctors at UCLA determined she needed a transplant and sent a letter to CIGNA Healthcare on Dec. 11. The Philadelphia-based health insurance company denied payment for the transplant.
On Thursday, about 150 teenagers and nurses protested outside CIGNA's office in Glendale. As the protesters rallied, the company reversed its decision and said it would approve the transplant.
Despite the reversal, CIGNA said in an e-mail statement before she died that there was a lack of medical evidence showing the procedure would work in Nataline's case.
Even if the outcome is not sure to be successful, the girl should have gotten the chance to give it a try. It's pretty low to play with the time, knowing that the parents won't need the money once their daughter is dead.