Life vs. patient vs. HMO

At the end of 2007, there is a big case in LA county. 17 years old is diagnosed hepatocarcinoma and need liver transplant, usually liver transplant isn't happened with this age. it is a rare case. All the MD agreed to do prior authorization with Cigna insurance. Cigna failed to comply with MD's request, not only one MD, all hemo& oncologist MD in addition to internal medicine, family practice, pulmonary critical care MD.After 4 months Cigna continued to deny all MD's request for all the treatment. Cancer levels start to reach to stage 3.??? Family's member start to require more attention from law maker (house representative, county supervisors, and state senator), include CMA- california medical Association.Patient passed away 1 day after Cigna's approved for her medical treatment.So, the question arrived is why insurance company is too late for approving for her medical treatment. Patient is paying insurance due very on time. The case is reaching to bioethics committees law firm in Los Angeles county.
An insurance company that initially refused to pay for a liver transplant for a 17-year-old Northridge girl who died in a hospital should face criminal charges and pay civil damages,Cigna HealthCare "literally, maliciously killed" Nataline Sarkisyan, attorney Mark Geragos told reporters in downtown Los Angeles.
Sarkisyan's 21-year-old brother, Bedros, told reporters that UCLA had a liver available for transplant, but they could not perform the procedure because of Cigna's refusal to cover it. The girl's father, Krikor Sarkisyan, held a photograph of his daughter, and with his eyes wet with tears, cried out. "They took my daughter away from me!" "The Cigna people, they cannot make people's decision if they (are) going to life or die," he said through a heavy accent. "Doctors ... they all signed the papers. ... Cigna denied it two times." Cigna insurance initially declined to pay for the transplant for Nataline Sarkisyan because her plan did not cover "experimental, investigational and unproven services," her doctors said. The denial promAbout 15 minutes into the rally, Cigna announced it would approve the transplant.pted nationwide protests, including a rally outside Cigna's Glendale offices.
CIGNA released the following statement: "Our deepest sympathies are with Nataline's family. Their loss is immeasurable, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. We deeply hope that the outpouring of concern, care and love that are being expressed for Nataline's family help them at this time."