Insurance company delay killed 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan

December 24, 2007 - 17:57 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, awaiting a liver transplant died Thursday in UCLA Medical Center.



Nataline, who was fighting leukemia, developed liver failure after complications from a bone marrow transplant she received from her brother last month.



December 11, 2007 the girl's parents asked Cigna Insurance Company to finance the operation. However, the company refused to cover the cost of the transplant, saying the $75 thousand surgery was too experimental.



On Thursday, friends, family and members of a nurses association held a protest outside Cigna headquarters in Glendale, urging the insurance company to reconsider. During the protest, Nataline's mother got word Cigna had changed its mind and would make an exception for Nataline's surgery. But the girl died an hour after the news came.



Attorneys for the Sarkisyan family intend to pursue legal action against Cigna HealthCare.
 Top stories
Azerbaijan admits death of 192 soldiers in Karabakh offensiveAzerbaijan admits death of 192 soldiers in Karabakh offensive
Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive.
Azerbaijan increasing defense spending for 2023 by $650 millionAzerbaijan increasing defense spending for 2023 by $650 million
In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million).
Moscow could recognize those who speak Russian as Moscow could recognize those who speak Russian as "compatriots"
The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".
Magnitude 5.6 quake causes damages in IranMagnitude 5.6 quake causes damages in Iran
The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.
Partner news
 Articles
Compassion is key, no matter what

An Italian photojournalist’s journey through the pandemic

 Most popular in the section
Global toll of mysterious hepatitis in children rises to 650 cases
Monkeypox does not pose a Covid-style risk, top health execs say
Sinjar becomes latest flashpoint for Iran-Turkey tensions in Iraq
Turkey-Syria earthquake death toll passes 15,000
Home
All news
Overview: Armenia and world
Archive for December 24, 2007
Other news in this section
  Related sections
Economy
 Latest news
Henrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan.
Armenia not going to war over Karabakh, says Pashinyan Armenia is not preparing to fight a war for Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview.
Caring for nature, we have started with ourselves - Team Telecom Armenia Team Telecom Armenia summarized the work undertaken within the company in the direction of environmental protection.
Residents of border Armenian villages continue protests Residents of several Armenian communities in Tavush province continued protests into April 22 morning.
---