In
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2000This web site is in no manner affiliated with any Kaiser entity and the for profit Permanente
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In September of the year 2000 my
father, Adam
Wesley Arnold was euthanized by Kaiser Permanente staff in
Los Angeles,
California.
My family and I witnessed the cruel
acts that were committed
against our father in the name of saving a corporate buck
so
administration would have
a few more pennies in their
coffers.
We were devastated by the Kaiser attitude which was basically "Tough Toadies People". I began studying the workings of Kaiser Permanente and discovered a group of wonderful, supportive professionals on a list serve operated through -
HARP - The Health Administration Responsibility Project, which is hosted by Dr. Harvey Frey, who is a physician, and an attorney. The function of HARP is self explanatory.
During this same time period I met Mr. Ronald Panzer, LPN, President of Hospice Patients Alliance. HPA promotes quality end of life care and has taken a stand against imposed killings in the medical setting. HPA provided to me information regarding the financial incentives of HMOs in general, Kaiser among them.
Both groups were extremely supportive of me and both groups shared enormous amounts of information regarding the financial incentives of Kaiser Permanente to deny care, avoid diagnosis and outright eliminate the patient in any way possible if they are going to be expensive to treat medically.
Dr. Charles Phillips, a former Kaiser Physician and who I believe is the foremost authority in this country on the inner, convoluted workings of Kaiser Permanente steered me in the right direction. He trained me to focus my anger and use it constructively and believe me after what I have seen and learned about Kaiser I have more than enough anger.
It was suggested by a Florida physician, that since I was receiving numerous letters of support from members of the public, who also were sharing their stories with me that I organize the data that I had already acquired. That way we would be providing documentation of what is taking place in the Kaiser Permanente environment.
Thus the Kaiser Papers were born from the most painful, eye opening experience I have ever had.
We try to provide to the public information that will alert them as to what to watch out for in this new type of Discount Department Store Medical Care. Whenever possible, we advocate for the patient. Whenever possible we also assist the Kaiser victim in receiving decent medical care outside of Kaiser and assist them in obtaining legal assistance.
In the beginning we had people under cover at Kaiser. These were patients that wanted to fight Kaiser legally through their own channels of operation and they obtained much evidence that is currently very useful to law enforcement and our legislators.
We seldom do this any longer because it has proven to be physically dangerous to the patient. Instead we encourage people that can , to please obtain medical care just about anywhere else. We would prefer if at all possible that they avoid any HMO just because of the manner such organizations are run. HMO's are in existence for the personal benefit of the owners, the stockholders or who ever is running their show. We acknowledge though, that not everyone has the opportunity to obtain medical care elsewhere.
HMO's and Kaiser in particular are not in business to help the patient with anything that is long term, potentially life threatening or just plain complicated. They are good for cheap co pays on prescriptions and general minor ailments. Someday, everyone is going to have a serious, life threatening illness. When they do, they will not want to have an HMO, especially Kaiser Permanente for their medical coverage.