Hundreds honor girl who needed liver transplant (sparked a renewed call for health-care reform)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_7832383

By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 12/28/2007 11:34:23 PM PST

GLENDALE - She had sparkling blue eyes, a captivating smile and a strong will to live despite her struggle with leukemia.


Farther Kirkor Sarkisyan holds a program with the photo... (Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News)


Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old Northridge girl whose death last week sparked a renewed call for health-care reform after she was twice denied a prescribed liver transplant, was buried Friday after a tear-streaked funeral.

"Though she is no longer with us physically, she is now resting peacefully in the presence of God," said Archbishop Mousbegh Mardirossian, western prelate for the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, who presided over her funeral.

"She is the foundation and hope for tomorrow."


Farther Kirkor Sarkisyan is hug by a friends after... (Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News)

Nataline died Thursday just hours after her insurance company, Philadelphia-based Cigna HealthCare, reversed two prior decisions to deny her a liver transplant despite the pleadings of doctors.

The insurance company, which deemed the surgery experimental, stated it would pay for the procedure "in this rare and unusual case" after loud public protest.

FULL story at link.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. The only reform americans can expect is the elimination of retirement

benefits. Happy New Year.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. As long as insurance companies are allowed to dictate

medical procedures, we'll have more stories like this one. We need to get the insurance companies out of health care, which is why I'm voting for Dennis Kucinich.

[aquart]

3. Gonna be the costliest liver they ever refused to transplant.

Depraved indifference to human life sounds like a reasonable charge.

Cigna Healthcare: Lets You Die.