I received an email this morning from my friend Beth who, knowing just how much email we get, only sends the really important ones. This IS hugely important for women out there. When health care is governed more by money than patient care (Yes, I know it's always been this way).. but when patients are sent home immediately after major surgery without the resources to care for themselves, this IS a public health problem that we MUST address. Read on and, if you agree, please sign the petition and contact your senators and representatives to support this bill.
S.459 & HR 119 (& 758) - Breast Cancer Patient Protect Action of 2007
You can read the text of it by visiting http://www.senate.gov and then click on active legislation link. It is currently waiting committee hearings in the Senate. I'm not sure about where it is in the House of Representatives.
- Jill O.
------------------------------------------------
>From A Nurse
>I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them
>they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I
>remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer,
>only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance
>companies. So there I sat with my patient giving them the instructions
>they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't
>grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless,
>frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they muttered.
>
>A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove
>cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a
>mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain
>afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an
>outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly
>in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.
>
>Mastectomy Bill in Congress
>
>It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important .. please take
>the time and do it really quick!
>
>Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all
>women.
>
>Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a
>time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those
>times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take
>the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you
>know who will do the same.
>
>There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which
>will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital
>stay f or patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating
>the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a
>few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still
>groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
>
>
>Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web p age with a petition
>drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.
>
>PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need
>not give more than your name and zip code number.
>
><a href="http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php">http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php</a>
>
>This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends
>
S.459 & HR 119 (& 758) - Breast Cancer Patient Protect Action of 2007
You can read the text of it by visiting http://www.senate.gov and then click on active legislation link. It is currently waiting committee hearings in the Senate. I'm not sure about where it is in the House of Representatives.
- Jill O.
------------------------------------------------
>From A Nurse
>I'll never forget the look in my patients eyes when I had to tell them
>they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I
>remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer,
>only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance
>companies. So there I sat with my patient giving them the instructions
>they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't
>grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless,
>frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they muttered.
>
>A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove
>cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a
>mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain
>afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an
>outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly
>in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.
>
>Mastectomy Bill in Congress
>
>It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important .. please take
>the time and do it really quick!
>
>Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill - Important legislation for all
>women.
>
>Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a
>time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those
>times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take
>the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you
>know who will do the same.
>
>There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which
>will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital
>stay f or patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating
>the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a
>few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still
>groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
>
>
>Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web p age with a petition
>drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on.
>
>PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need
>not give more than your name and zip code number.
>
><a href="http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php">http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php</a>
>
>This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends
>
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