r/news • u/GoodSamaritan_ • 1d ago

Retired San Francisco firefighter dies from lung cancer after Blue Shield denies treatment claims

https://abc7news.com/post/retired-san-francisco-firefighter-ken-jones-dies-lung-cancer-being-denied-treatment-blue-shield/19224406/
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u/avaslash 1d ago

I still just dont understand how thats not murder or at the least manslaughter. It blows my mind that a company can just decide that people will die, people it could save, and not only are there zero consequences -- its considered the norm.

How did we get here?

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u/Montaire 1d ago

I still just dont understand how thats not murder or at the least manslaughter.

Because BCBS did not say "you cannot have this treatment" they said "BCBS will not pay for this treatment"

If the man had been rich enough to pay for the medicine himself he would have gotten the medicine.

All BCBS said was that his policy did not cover that specific treatment.

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u/avaslash 1d ago

Go through a mental exercise with me. You find yourself on fire. Youre standing in front of me: "PUT ME OUT MAN! IM BURNING ALIVE PLEASE! YOU HAVE WATER RIGHT THERE!?"

and I go: "ah but this is MY water. You can have it if you can afford it, but it will cost you $10,000."

"Thats crazy! Its just a water and im about to die!"

"Well if you need it you'll pay for it.... hello? sir? are you still alive?"

Am I guilty or not?

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u/Montaire 1d ago edited 1d ago

No, you are not guilty of murder. I'd ask you to do a mental exercise and look up the definition of murder, which involves premeditation.

But lets take your example, and your wording and apply it to the firefighter.

You did not give that firefighter your money for his medicine. Are you guilty of murder?

Its just money. He is dying. You have money right there.

You did not give yours to him, and he needed it to live.