'Death panels' already exist
Source: Los Angeles Times | Letter to the Editor

Re: "Self-paid surgery, then a legal fight, Oct. 7

So Anthem Blue Cross of California agreed to pay for a policyholder's liver transplant -- but only if he had it in California. This could have been a de facto death sentence for Ephram Nehme, whose doctor told him that he could die waiting. Because Nehme had the means to travel to Indiana and pay for a $205,000 procedure, he is alive today.

Next, Cigna HealthCare refused to pay for a liver transplant for one of its insured.

When at last it consents, due to negative publicity, it is too late and 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan dies.

To the voracious opponents of healthcare reform who have declared that a proposed new system would establish the installation of "death panels," I say stop your screaming and rest assured that death panels are already securely in place. They are called "health" insurance companies.

Granville Ames
Los Angeles

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