Shock and dismay over Kaiser scandal

Re “Kaiser Denied Transplants of Ideally Matched Kidneys,” May 4

One can only ask what the state Department of Managed Health Care will do to punish Kaiser Permanente for its substandard, criminally incompetent care. A fine in the range of $50 million ought to get the insurance company’s attention.

When in doubt, take care of the patients. The approach Kaiser took -- when in doubt, protect the bottom line -- shows it to be beyond avarice. It should fire all the clearly incompetent executives involved. The quote from Dr. Sharon Levine is incomprehensible: “It isn’t as if waiting another six months or nine months for a transplant is a death sentence.” If a patient had a perfect-match organ versus not getting one, it may well be.

Punishment is called for here -- a giant fine. Money is the only language insurance companies understand.

DAVID O’SHEA

Costa Mesa

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I am horrified at the news about Kaiser renal patients in Northern California whose very lives are being threatened because of the callous disregard shown by doctors and administrators in the new kidney transplant program.

I have been a Kaiser member for most of my adult life and am grateful for the exemplary care I’ve received from the nephrologists and other staff members at Kaiser Woodland Hills. They are my heroes. I had my very successful kidney transplant at UCLA, which partnered with Kaiser, in September 2000. I was lucky enough to have a living donor, my sister; a caring compassionate team at Kaiser; and the highly regarded transplant program at UCLA.

I am angry that Kaiser kidney patients in Northern California cannot get the same care that I did. How tragic that members in Northern California cannot expect the care and attention they deserve.

ANNE BERMAN

Los Angeles

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In 1997, I received a kidney taken from a young man who died in a car accident. Each day since, I have been grateful for that gift. I had my surgery at Albany Medical Center in New York.

Kaiser’s assertion that nine months more on the renal transplant waiting list is not a death sentence is pure fantasy. People do die; dialysis is very harsh. It was by sheer will alone on the mornings after dialysis that I got out of bed and went to work. I remember having to pull over on the highway because I was blacking out. I remember seeing fellow dialysis patients, many of whom were my friends, die for no obvious reason. Some things are worse than death.

MIKE MCGINN

Monroe, N.Y.