74-yr-old sold crack to pay for wife's cancer treatment

[kurth]

CHICKASHA, Okla. -- A 74-year-old convicted crack cocaine dealer in Chickasha won't be going to prison.

George Lewis was given a 10-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of the drug.

Lewis said he used the money from selling drugs to buy cancer medication for his wife and to pay her medical bills.

Lewis' attorney said Lewis had never committed a crime in the past and that his wife is now under hospice care...

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/5217232/detail.html

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And our Republican leaders ask: WHY DIDN'T HE USE HIS TAX-ADVANTAGED SAVINGS ACCOUNT?

[qanda]

1. This just breaks my heart

For goodness sake, what has our country become? So, so sad!

[tanyev]

2. I seem to recall an elderly man here in Texas who started

robbing banks because he knew he could get health care in prison. Maybe Laura should forget about gangs and work on curbing the increasing crime rate among the sick and elderly.

[MadHound]

3. Welcome to Bushco's America, where if you are poor or old

Then you have the freedom to decide whether to watch your wife die, or break the law. Where you have the freedom to decide between heat for the month or food for the week. Where you have the freedom to decide whether to pay the rent, or pay for your medications.

I want my country back, the kinder, gentler America where those most in need were given help when they needed it, and the rich had to pay their fair share of taxes and give back to the country.

[Botany]

4. I guess the "ownership society" is working out for him so much.

We pay double per capita then any other western country (that includes
people not covered too) for the poorest return in health care. No wonder
the HMO, insurance companies, and drug companies love bush and the
current congress they take in all that money and get to work like hell to
pay any out.

:grr:

[jmm]

5. The prosecutor who wanted to lock this man up for 20 yrs,

the health care industry and our government need to be publicly shamed for allowing people to feel this desperation.

All of my grandfather's brothers joined the army during WWII. The oldest of them met his wife in Europe during the war. When they came back tot he US he worked as a truck driver for over forty years until he retired. When his wife got Alzheimer's he was forced to divorce her and sell the home they raised their children in order to pay for her medical bills. Nobody should be forced to do this or sell drugs to pay for a loved ones medical bills.

[Tracer]

6. This sounds a little off.

A 74 year old man (and his wife) should be covered by Medicare. At most, he would have to pay 20% of the cost of treatments.

Many states have financial help for low income seniors and --- furthermore, most doctors and hospitals will arrange for a payment schedule.

[FloridaPat]

7. 20% of $200,000 is $40,000. Cancer treatments are expensive.

I have a friend who has been having heart attacks for the last month. He had a bypass surgery a couple of years ago. He makes around $800 a month on SS, his only income. A month ago he had an attack, went to the hospital and spent 12 hours sitting around before anyone got to him. They spent $2000 for tests and told him there was nothing he could do. He's looked all over for money to help, but he owns a home, so he isn't eligible for a lot of help. He had cancer a couple years ago and couldn't afford to continue taking the chemotherapy. It's disgusting that we are the only industrialized nation without universal health care and we pay twice as much for what we get then everyone else.

[benburch]

8. You'd think that, but you would be wrong.

The inferior care you get on Medicare means you die of the cancer. And many things you think would get covered wind up not being covered. Medicare and Medicaid are largely shams and have been since Ronald Reagan.

[Tracer]

9. I have to disagree, Ben ...

... as I am currently being treated for ovarian cancer (with Medicare only).

I have had excellent care. My surgeon is affiliated with Mass. General Hospital and Dana Farber. My oncologist is the Chief of Staff at a well-recognized hospital and teaches at Harvard Medical School.

So far, after 4 months of treatment, my total outlay has been about $1,500. I realize that it will be more after all the bills come in ... but it will be nowhere near $200,000.

[benburch]

11. You are lucky.

In many places it is impossible to find a physician willing to take a new Medicare patient.

[ohio_liberal]

10. Ain't that the truth

Couldn't agree with you more.