Highly recommended reading for everyone with an interest in how Kaiser’s rigged arbitration system works to keep its many misdeeds out of the public eye. It is rare for KP to lose in arbitration, but when they do, as in this case, “Kaiser offered to fund an annuity with the arbitration award, but only if the family agreed not to publicize the case.”
They will lie, cheat and steal to win, and on the rare occasion they don’t win, they will go to any lengths necessary to prevent these stories from getting out. Many thanks to the Palmer family and attorney Robert Vaage for refusing to take the bribe.
Kaiser Permanente loses $4.9 million in brain injury case – San Francisco Business Times
A San Diego man who allegedly suffered permanent brain injury in a Kaiser hospital two years ago has won a $4.9 million arbitration award in a rare instance of an arbitration loss by the Oakland-based health giant being made public.
The patient, then-17-year-old Raymond Palmer, was stabbed at a San Diego trolley stop in May 2011, taken to UCSD Medical Center and later transferred to Kaiser Zion hospital, also known as Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center.
Shortly after the transfer, Palmer’s breathing tube allegedly became dislodged, resulting in a Code Blue, according to a statement by Palmer’s lawyer, San Diego personal injury attorney Robert Vaage.
17 years old. How differently would this young man’s life have turned out if only that transfer to Kaiser Zion had never taken place? Kaiser Thrives on ruining lives. Lies and denies.
This isn’t attorney Vaage’s first rodeo. In 2009 he won a large award against KP for a man with warning signs of an impending stroke that were repeatedly ignored until it was too late. We are frequently asked to recommend attorneys, and although we don’t make direct referrals, we do always suggest that you look for someone with a history of winning against KP. Lawyers without that experience often don’t have any idea what they are going to be up against. Kaiser doesn’t just play dirty; they wallow in the sewer. It’s where they live.
Kaiser’s response on page 2 of the article, that they believe appropriate care was provided, is all you need to know at open enrollment time. They “believe” dislodging your breathing tube and leaving you permanently brain damaged is “appropriate.” No thanks, I’ll be getting my healthcare elsewhere.
This is coming from a perspective of employee.
Kaiser Managers hire people that do not care about the patients. They leave old bone, blood, and single use items in surgical sets that result in infections of patients after surgery, and the doctor then blames the patient for their health issue for why their are not recovering. You would not believe the things that are said between nurses, surgeons and supporting staff while the patient lies helpless on the operating room table: trust them with their lives. I am embarrassed to say that I work for Kaiser. I have warned my family members to seek healthcare insurance elsewhere. They doctors at Kaiser have the most protecting from punishment because they cause the most punishment. Please know that most of the doctors do not know what they are doing past a common cold, and that the surgeons, guaranteed, will make such a huge mistake in surgery that a patient will have to go in again. When the patient is waiting for surgery the nurse will mix up the medication and force the patient into cardiac arrest for drug overdose. Working for Kaiser I have seen and heard it all.
KP in Hawaii lost binding arbitrator clauses for lawsuits based on a recent Hawaii Supreme court ruling.
http://www.kitv.com/news/hawaii/hawaii-supreme-court-strikes-down-kaisers-arbitration-agreement/-/8905354/22162606/-/aku3dqz/-/index.html
Couldn’t agree more. The Kaiser forced arbitration system is one of the greatest weapons they have to keep patients injured by medical negligence from obtaining justice. Kudos to Mr. Vaage for taking this case and getting this award for this family!
Your thread was good; however as some people we are still left without justice for there is a thin line as what medical negligence would be considered. Nonetheless, in the case of S. Pearson, a Kaiser Medical Member for 20 plus years, and force ret County Social Worker (MFW), she was treated for one ailment (Anemia) and not the actual problem (non-chemical type B1 dependency) leaving the client with challenges as well as her only child whom she once managed. Heal the World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0jUAOFaG0
Meanwhile, as her son attempts to regain life; Kaiser fails to assist leaving him without a manager and leader to support his dreams. When appealing to Kaiser on the travesty, he nor the family was paid any respect, yet challenged when request help.
However, this is how Kaiser “Thrives”, it a business and like every business it is driven at the expense of others. In this case S. Pearson, just so happened to be the unlucky client. Leaving her family to address her lifelong need 24/7.
The justification for not treating S. Pearson illness in a timely manner was twofold. One Susan Pearson at the time weight 498 pounds and Kaiser did not have the equipment to provide her services; and secondly, Kaiser did not analyzing the clients health concerns and vital at the time of visiting medical professionals and missed the signs. In fact, S. Pearson doctor located in Kaiser Pittsburg CA told us to get her up and out of this offices, after S. Pearson heart rate drop and past out on the floor. It took another doctor to assist with S. Pearson. Sad, but true. What I am hoping for are people willing to standing up and request Kaiser to changer their slogan regarding who their company Thrives, for to many people have suffered from Kaiser’s bad outcomes.
As of today, as my sisters caregiver, I am looking at over a half of million of dollars to provide quality care for my sister, over and above her ret income for 24/7 services for the rest of her life. S. Pearson is only 52 years of age.
My brother is Bi-polar with severe dementia issues and I notified his doctor and she still refused to provide medical care. Kaiser mental health personnel gave us incorrect information about not having coverage to include only family member at mental health session because “not” Kaiser member.
Rubish! I sent certified signed receipt letter that if my brother killed someone with his arsenal of automatic weapons he collects that they would be responsible for not providing medical care.
We were told that seniors who had memory issues would receive a full brain work-up and it didn’t happen they just gave one appointment at neurology and didn’t schedule any brain scans . They only gave my brother a 5 minute test and said his memory was fine. Rubish! He cannot remember conversation he had the day before!
Every person need to flood the medical board in every state complaints against every doctor at the facility to bring down medical boards that refuse to investigate negligent doctors. Only by holding doctors and the medical boards responsible and have sitins at gov offices will our horrible healthcare system be changed! contact me at kerrypaymann@gmail.com
They should call it kaiser thieves…after years of trying to get doctors to help my mom with many pre stroke signs and symptoms she finally had a debilitating one and is in hospice care. They shouldn’t be allowed to operate I don’t understand how they get away with murder!