In August, Michelle Bateman suffered a heart attack in a Philadelphia park. Paramedics did not restore a normal heartbeat until at least 45 minutes later. Bateman was later transferred to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she was diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state with no chance of cognitive function recovery. This weekend, the Philadelphia Inquirer, ran a story with this patient's picture and story because the hospital had been wholly unable to identify the patient for the past four months. The hospital had been referring to the patient as "Jane Doe." The newspaper coverage worked; the patient was finally identified today. (Philadelphia Inquirer; Fox News)
The Inquirer notes: "Penn has absorbed the cost - well over a quarter-million dollars so far and about $2,000 for each additional day - and will continue to pay for her stay in the hospital or another facility as long as necessary, said Marc Kaplan, a spokesman for the health system." I was pleased to see this. As both a Pennsylvania and a federal taxpayer, I do not want to see my tax dollars (through Medicaid or Medicare) or even my plan dollars (Independence Blue Cross) go the treatment of a patient in a persistent vegetative state. This patient has zero ability to benefit from any treatment at Penn or at any long-term facility to which she might be now transferred.
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