Mellow

"I don't have life anymore. Gems will decline the treatment until I die. I'm in pain," said the mother of three, who asked to remain anonymous. "I've lost friends because nobody wants to visit a severely sick person. My sickness is also affecting my children. I'm just sitting here waiting for my death."
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Really mara? Whats the purpose of having a medical aid with so many weird diseases out there its just not fair so she must just die becaus ethey dont cover it
#teary eyes
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januswanus

Wow Gems is owned by government. Can't believe government will let one of their officials die.
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MommaC

How?
Isn't there a provision for 'critical medication' which ensures that medical aids are forced to approve life sustaining treatment?
Do we still have a medical control board that she can appeal to or an ombudsman for medical aids?
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BEAUTYPRINCESS

This is sad
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Dzel

Sad story indeed.

I have a feeling reporters don't research the subject matter they cover or do a background check so they can write informed articles. A quick google on the treatment returned the following:

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The results of certain clinical trials of patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer were reviewed. It was found that ERBITUX did not work in patients whose tumors had mutations of the K-ras gene. ERBITUX is not recommended for the treatment of patients whose colorectal cancer tumors have mutations of the K-ras gene.

ERBITUX was approved for metastatic colorectal cancer by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on clinical studies. In one study, ERBITUX was used with irinotecan. The effectiveness of ERBITUX in this combination is based on data regarding patients in clinical studies whose tumors became smaller. At present, there is no proof in this setting that ERBITUX improves the symptoms that a patient feels or helps a patient live longer. In another study, ERBITUX was used with best supportive care. Best supportive care means that the patient receives treatments to help control symptoms and provide comfort.

erbitux.com/colorectal-patients/treatment/erbitux-can-help.aspx
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Simply put there is not enough evidence of the treatment prolonging life or even curing tumors but it has been shown in some cases to halt the spread of the disease but even then that claim is questionable.

As cold as this might sound I totally understand why medical aids would think twice about the treatment, the cost / benefit ratio seems very low and at R 100k a pop one would expect miracles but it does not deliver that.

Tough one to call but with a little research this article could have had a different slant, I suppose this is a case for the Ombudsman.
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Mopedi_Thwiii

This is sick, they must pay for her treatment,

This government, I am slowly turning blue...come 2014 I will for change
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PastorI

Dear Mom, It is a sad story indeed but just to give up as yet, just dont let the circumstances of this world dictate your destiny. Remember Jesus Christ's death was not in vain but because of his death we are All healed. Cancer would bow down in the name of Jesus and I can boldly declare that your healing is guarateed. Thanks for your faith and I am praying for you.
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PapaOra

@januswanus
Wow Gems is owned by government. Can't believe government will let one of their officials die.

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its for government employee, administered by MHG, ska bolela about things you don't know...
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Dzel

PastorI

Dear Mom, It is a sad story indeed but just to give up as yet, just dont let the circumstances of this world dictate your destiny. Remember Jesus Christ's death was not in vain but because of his death we are All healed
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The irony escapes you completely, this is a woman on her death bed and your Jesus Christ has done nothing for her. You guys have no shame in giving someone false hope, if Jesus was as powerful as you claim he is she would have been cured by now. But then of course when it comes to negatives it is never Jesus' fault, no he heals and saves but never deliberately makes people sick but everything positive is attributable to him. If she were to end up taking the medication and got healed it will be god's miracle I just can get my head around this selective praise singing.

Yesterday I read someone's FB page and it read PUSH stands for Pray Until Something Happens; that is what religion does. It DUMBS people down and we stop thinking for ourselves hoping for a miracle. From the sounds of it little can be done for her, I don't know if you are doing her a favour by giving false hope. She needs to take her case to the Ombadsman and hopes she wins and that the treatment works. Jesus will not change her fate.
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Jujubaby

I work for MHG but at a different medical scheme, If the doctor motivated for this treatment this case must be referred to a Medical advisor and this case should be treated as a stand alone. If the Doctor recommends this treatment and the member is willing to pay out of her savings, I don't see a problem in approving. SAVINGS belong to the member........ They are entitled to them. She is not asking the treatment to be paid from insured benefits, but from the money that she's been saving for cases like this. She must cintact the Medical Scheme Board
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