17- year-old girl needs liver transplant, CIGNA denies

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2007

Why did they deny her?

pickledpepperRN · Dec 20, 2007

Nataline Sarkisyan, recently treated at UCLA Medical Center with a bone marrow transplant for curing leukemia, developed a rare complication from the chemotherapy and transplant causing many of her organs, including her liver and kidneys to shut down.

Her doctors say that she needs a transplant but CIGNA has ignored this medical decision and calls the transplant "experimental" as justification for denying the treatment.

http://www.calnurses.org/

Her doctors and nurses are frantically working to save her.

UCLA has an excellent liver transplant program with an ICU just for liver transplant patients.

pattymac · Dec 20, 2007

Having major organ complications is not rare in Bone marrow transplant. It is very frequently what ends up killing them. Organ transplant is rarely an option. I am completely sympathetic, but sometimes I'm just not crazy about the way stories are portrayed in the news. Just my own thoughts.

pickledpepperRN · Dec 20, 2007

Natalie Sarkisyan, recently treated at UCLA Medical Center with a bone marrow transplant for a recurring leukemia, developed a rare complication from the chemotherapy and transplant which caused many of her organs, including her liver and kidneys to shut down.

She is now in critical condition in the intensive care unit and multiple doctors have told the family that her only hope of survival is a liver transplant.

Medically speaking, her doctors say that she is ready for the transplant.

They also believe that her other organs will recover on their own if the liver is transplanted. CIGNA has ignored this medical decision and calls the transplant "experimental" as justification for denying the treatment.

http://www.calnurse.org/assets/pdf/nataline_cigna_flyer_1.pdf

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2007

It sounds as if she is a poor candidate considering the fact that she is also battling cancer.

allnurses Guide · Dec 20, 2007

It sounds as if she is a poor candidate considering the fact that she is also battling cancer.

That is my impression as well.

I'll have to read further.

steph

LiverpoolJane · Dec 20, 2007

Do you use the MARS machine in the US to treat acute liver failure - it has been used in the UK - it is not the perfect solution but it has bought some patients time while their own liver recovers enough?

pickledpepperRN · Dec 20, 2007

I was at the rally.

Her mother was telling us that when the doctors wanted to do the transplant she was an exellent candidate. In the week since she has developed pneumonia.

Then the Moms cell phone rang. It was Cigna telling her they approved the surgery.

She went into their office to get it in writing when she got a call from the UCLA ICU that Nataline is worse. Mom and family, including the brother who gave bone marrow, rushed to the hospital.

Now prayers are needed.

I am crying and praying. Her friends from school and Girl Scouts were there.

Hundreds came out to support this family.

sasha1224 · Dec 20, 2007

A prime example of who is running the healthcare system. INSURANCE companies. Why didn't the doctor just do what was needed? Because of money. Why didn't the hospital do what was needed? Again, because of money. The front is poor little girl, she needs this, but does anyone who could help her(doc, hospital) step up and just do it? NO. They are waiting on approval from the INSURANCE company to PAY for it. So now, with all the delays, her chances to live decrease. The INSURANCE companies are ok with this as she will not cost them anymore money.

pickledpepperRN · Dec 20, 2007

I agree with Sasha1224. Why didn't the hospital and doctors go ahead and try to save her life? Then deal with the money.

I would (and have) donated lots of time. And physicians do too. But we can only do this in a clinic, not a hospital.

Also, just a reminder, unless it is against your beliefs, I think it is good to donate blood or plasma and to be an organ donor.

…"My daughter survived two bouts of cancer, and against all odds has been stable even with so many of her organs not working, only to now be told that she can not get the only treatment that will save her life because some administrator in some office thinks it is too expensive," said Hilda Sarkisyan. "We needed help in standing up against this insurance provider, and of course it was the nurses who stepped forward."…
…CIGNA's refusal of Nataline's liver transplant-overruling the urgent appeals of an array of doctors and nurses-is an example of the kind of failures of the new healthcare plan sponsored by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Fabian Nunez. That plan, which is actively supported by CIGNA, requires every single Californian to purchase insurance products from companies like CIGNA, but does not address the problem of denial of care evident in this situation. …
http://www.investors.com/breakingnews.asp?journalid=65427979

FireStarterRN, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2007

What about availability of a liver? Is this a factor or is it just a denial of coverage?