Fw: Share Your Story

[Guest guest]

From: " Pam Young (by way of ilena rose) " <pamyoung73@...>

Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 9:57 AM

Subject: Share Your Story

> Dear Sisters:

> My hometown newspaper in Ohio is writing an investigative report on the

> complications of breast reconstructions. The reporter says she needs more

> than just my story of how I was disabled by the TRAM Flap. If you have a

> story you would like to share about the complications of Silicone & Saline

> Implants or Tram Flaps and Latissimus Dorsi Flaps, please contact

> Tucker at lauratucker@.... By telling your story, you may help

> other women. Thank you, Pam.

>

> ~~~ pam, you might want to post this on alt.support.cancer.breast also ~~~

> very great work you are doing. love, ilena ~~~

>

>

[Guest guest]

Repeat Post:

ONE WOMAN’S REPORT OF

"AN ILLNESS THAT DOESN’T EXIST"

I am Martha Murdock, Founder of NSIF, Supporting Survivors of Silicone Medical Implant Devices. I am not compenensated or retained by industry or anyone else.

A woman made a decision to have surgery to correct a congenital birth defect. This decision was made after talking with her doctors and reading all the information she could get about the procedure. She got not one, but four opinions from surgeons. All doctors she consulted with ( a total of 6) told her breast implants were safe and would last a lifetime.

No one told her:

1) these medical devices had never been approved by the FDA.

2) there were reports of silicone causing autoimmune and other diseases.

3) all silicone gel-filled breast implants leak.

4) the silicone leaking from breast implants would migrate throughout her body and lodge in her major organs.

5) the implant manufacturers, who advertised implants would last a lifetime, had actual knowledge that implants could fall apart after just 5 years.

6) the manufacturers of silicone gel-filled breast implants never tested their products to determine if there would be long-term health-risks, prior to putting implants on the market.

7) Sadly, no one told her the children she might bear after implants were in her body could be affected by this product.

Manufacturers of silicone breast implants claim that women who get breast implants were provided package inserts prior to their surgical procedure. I PERSONALLY NEVER saw one. Furthermore, how can a woman truly give INFORMED CONSENT if she is not provided with the information the manufacturers knew about this product? Did I have the right to receive this information? Absolutely! Unfortunately for me, and hundreds of thousands of other women, I did not receive the truth about the product placed in my body, my doctors recommended and assured me were safe.

My nightmare is not over! Within a short time of receiving breast implants, this formerly healthy individual began to have strange and unexplained medical problems. One day, my current doctor writes in his report that I have breast implants along with numerous health problems, and BINGO -- no more health insurance. No one told me I would be denied medical and life insurance coverage for the rest of my life -- simply because I once had breast implants. Because I worked in the insurance brokerage industry for years, I learned that my health insurance coverage was provided by companies who also insured the same breast implant manufacturers for product liability.

Do insurance companies know something that other industries don’t know? You bet they do! Insurance companies have deemed women with implants, and those who have been explanted to be "uninsurable". This is only one reason the taxpayers are, and shall continue to bear the economic burden caused by this product. Why is there not accountability? Why are the manufacturers not called to task for creating the largest medical debacle in the history of our country?

Had I been told the truth -- that breast implants were never tested and determined to be safe for long-term human implantation; the implants would leak silicone into my body; silicone would travel to my major organs; there was no way to ever get the silicone out of my body; the implants could begin to fall apart after 5 years, requiring additional surgical procedures; my children might be affected; and the long-term affects of implanted silicone in the body were unknown -- I could have weighed the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure. I, and most women like me, would have declined to take such risks.

What is wrong with me and hundreds of thousands of others whose only common denominator is silicone breast implants? On one hand, the implant manufacturers claim silicone breast implants are safe and do not cause health problems. They claim these women have illnesses that don’t exist, diagnosed by "greedy doctors" taking advantage of a valid concern that this untested product "might" be the cause -- or at least a contributor -- to the medical problems the women are experiencing. Could thousands of doctors treating hundreds of thousands of women for the same, or similar problems be that wrong? Could laboratories all over the country testing and evaluating the blood and specimens from me, and others like me, be manipulating and orchestrating the test results -- so it appears these women have illnesses that don’t exist?

Reasonable minds would wonder -- if silicone breast implants are truly safe, and do not cause health problems, why do the same insurance companies insuring the breast implant manufacturers refuse to insure and pay health claims of women with breast implants? If silicone breast implants are safe, why did the manufacturers only begin doing research on the "long-term" health consequences of their products after breast implants were removed from the market place? Then, why didn’t they study women who already had implants.

I was declared totally disabled by many physicians in 1995. I have no income and no means to support myself. I am one step away from being another drain on our society. It’s a disgrace, because this could have been avoided. Had I received true Informed Consent about silicone breast implants I would have never agreed to endure the procedure. Today I would be a healthy, active, vibrant, productive member of society. I would still be the successful professional business woman, and manager with an international brokerage consulting firm. I would have medical and life insurance coverage. Most importantly of all, I would have children and grandchildren living normal lives free of this Illness that doesn’t exist.

If the members of this committee are sincerely looking for the truth -- consider this. Over 240,000 women have filed official papers with the court documenting through medical records that they have some level of disability due to health problems related to silicone breast implants. The Courts have indicated that over 73% of those claims are valid. An independent Court-Appointed epidemiologist has evaluated the claims and medical documentation and verified the Courts findings. Ask yourself, "How can so many women have an Illness that doesn’t exist ---yet, which can be diagnosed, quantified and qualified by scientists, epidemiologist, and researchers --- not to mention the treating physicians for these scores of women?"

The truth will never be found through research funded by the very manufacturers whose product has caused this Illness that doesn’t exist. Assuredly we will never know the truth if the breast implant manufacturers doing and/or funding research are allowed to control what is published and reported to the news media. History has shown us the implant manufacturers never voluntarily released to the FDA, the doctors, or the women, any of the documents showing that silicone has the potential for health-related problems. Why are we not entitled to receive all the information? Without the full story --- no one can possibly give true informed consent.

Someone is accountable for perpetrating all of these abuses, and the ‘someone’ is not this woman! Ladies and gentlemen; members of the panels and the Committee ..... are you hearing this message from one woman who represents hundreds of thousands of others -- with an illness that doesn’t exist?

Respectfully Submitted:

Martha Murdock, Director/Founder NSIF

4416 Willow Lane

Dallas, TX 75244

(972) 490-0800

MARTHA MURDOCK

4416 Willow Lane

Dallas, Texas 75244

August 4, 1998

Committee on the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants

Institute of Medicine

2101 Constitution Avenue, NW (FO 3101)

Washington, DC 20418

Re: Uninsurability of Breast Implant Women

Dear Committee Members:

I want to more thoroughly respond to several questions I was asked, regarding declination of health insurance coverage and pre-existing conditions, after I spoke on the first Panel during the Open Meeting on July 24, 1998. First of all, I would like to qualify my statements with the fact that I worked in the insurance industry for 17-years, until my employment was terminated due to my illness and lawsuit. I am a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist with additional accreditations of HIA and ALHC. My Bio is enclosed for your information as far as experience in the insurance industry is concerned.

You will also find enclosed a brief, yet more comprehensive explanation, to the response of the questions I was asked by members of the Committee. I knew time was a factor and elected not to continue attempting to "briefly" explain once the comment was made regarding the Committee only being concerned with "scientific data". I, as many other women, have been declined insurance coverage based on actuarial and underwriting scientific statistics.

Once you have reviewed the enclosed information, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (972) 490-4164, fax (972) 490-4134, or you may write to me at the above address, should you have additional questions. My objective is to facilitate the Committee as well as the women in resolving this travesty.

Most sincerely,

Martha Murdock, Director

National Silicone Implant Foundation

Insurance Actuarial & Underwriting Considerations

The actuary involved with health care plans must have statistics upon which to base conclusions, These are available from a variety of sources. A few, but not all, of the sources are shown in the attachment. Excellent studies are usually available upon request from the Federal Government; most of the large accounting firms; similarly from the larger actuarial firms.

An actuary organizes a health plan’s data collection process, measures the intensity of historic utilization by past plan participants, derives meaningful statistics which describe the plan’s benefits profile and its past utilization, and then forecasts the future plan participants’ benefit utilization characteristics. Plans then incorporate this information into their designs and underwriting guidelines.

An actuary provides sophistication, objectivity and access to data from all employers’ claims experience. An actuary builds rate tables based on underwriting guidelines, sets retentions, calculates insurance inflation and certifies reserves when required by regulation or prudent business practices.

Employers have certain basic claims records pertaining to the date of treatment, date of payment amount of payment, type of procedure. These data represent historical experience that must be reorganized to be easily interpreted. There are three measures of claims experience: frequency (number of claims), severity (dollar amount of claims, and "lag" (delay in presentation and payment).

Underwriting Factors

Group health underwriting is both an art and a science. Underwriters use their knowledge of medical trends and their experience with similar plans to screen groups and individuals that have undesirable characteristics.

All of these factors are based on actuarial mortality and morbidity tables that are scientifically developed from real data accumulation. Health underwriting is concerned with morbidity, that is, the relative incidence of sickness and injury occurring among a given group of people. Both medical expense insurance and disability income insurance are concerned with morbidity assessment.

Considering the brief previous information, the testimonies of physicians, scientists and women at the IOM - National Academy of Science Meetings on July 22 and 24, 1998, you can easily see why women who have ever had breast implants are indeed, considered "uninsurable" by all insurance companies. I would like to also comment that many of the insurance companies who insure the manufacturers for their product liability, also insure many of the women with breast implant related illnesses.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Definition: A physical or mental condition that existed before the plan participant became covered by the health plan. Most group and individual health plans have clauses that exclude certain preexisting conditions from coverage for a certain defined period of time.

AVAILABILITY OF ACTUARIAL STATISTICS

Reports

Annual Proceedings

Society of Actuaries

900 Park Blvd.

Itasca, IL 60143

Conference of Actuaries in Public Practice

500 Park Blvd.

Itasca, IL 60143

Statistical Bulletin

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

One Madison Ave.

New York, NY 10010

Society Security Bulletin

U.S. Dept. Of Health & Human Services

P.O. Box 57

Washington, DC 21203

Office of Publications

Health Insurance Associations of America

919 Third Ave.

New York, NY 10022

Publications Department

Intrntl. Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans

18700 W. Bluemound Rd.

P.O. Box 69

Brookfield, WI 53008-0069

Employee Benefit Research Reports

D. Spencer & Assoc., Inc.

222 W. Street

Chicago, IL 60606-5258

Health Care Financing Administration

Social Security Administration

300 W. Preston St.

Baltimore, MD 21201

Publications

Chamber of Commerce of the United States

1615 H Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20062

Risk & Insurance Management Society, Inc.

205 E. 42nd Street

New York, NY 10017

----- Original Message -----

From: Pam Young

MAM-NSIF@...

Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2001 10:33 AM

Subject: Re: Fw: Fw: Share Your Story

Dear Martha:Thank you for sharing that story. I needed the encouragment. Thanks, Pam in Ohio.>From: "MARTHA" <MAM-NSIF@...>>"Micheline B. Lambert" <implants@...>>CC: <pamyoung73@...>>Subject: Fw: Fw: Share Your Story>Date: Sat, 2 Jun 2001 00:00:45 -0500>>>----- Original Message ----->From: MARTHA> >Cc: SBIPrayerForum >Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 11:56 PM>Subject: Re: Fw: Share Your Story>>>Telling Your Story: The Juice Is Worth The Squeeze>>by Don Murdock, Laity Lodge Executive Director>>"Why did God create people?" asked the student. The Rabbi responded, >"Because God loves stories." Yes!>>We are created to become stories. It is not simply that we create and tell >stories. We are stories. What are we to do with our story-lives? Holy >Scripture instructs us to share them with one another. God made us >relational in character and relational in need. One way we live our >relational character is in the telling of our stories to one another. At >this point, I reasonably asked, "Why is this so important?" And >furthermore, "Is there not some risk involved? After all, opening myself >leaves me vulnerable to ridicule and rejection." Of course, this is true. >Like many others, I harbor a nagging fear that if some people really know >me, they won’t like me --- and, I might feel "small" and unworthy as a >result. Sometimes, I fear being squeezed into shame by someone’s >disapproval. However, I do believe these risks are worth it, especially >when I share my story with trustworthy companions.>>>Offering ourselves in stories is how we sustain intimacy with ourselves, >others, and God. Henri Nouwen, in his book, "Lifesigns", says that one of >the sins of the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit in us is our freedom for >intimacy. I like this word "Intimacy." In-to-me see. . . this is how I like >to say the word.>>>Intimacy is seeing oneself honestly and letting others wee inside to the >honest self. I think Nouwen is right about the Holy Spirit’s function in >this regard. The Holy Spirit not only calls us to live honest and open >lives with ourselves and others but also empowers us to do so. The writer >of First considers such relational openness in terms of "walking in >the light" with one another rather than "walking in darkness." Darkness >hides us from one another. In darkness we stumble around blindly, harming >ourselves and our surroundings. Light enables us to perceive one another >and our world realistically, honestly. When we live with the lights turned >up brightly, we live with one another in safety. Such openness fosters the >freedom and security needed for "insprited" living. I find it exciting and >creative to live in the midst of inspirited people. God gives us a >wonderful way to enter into and sustain intimacy with ourselves, others, >and Himself. This is through revealing ourselves to one another. It is in >this process that we discover who we are and the meaning of our lives. >Story-sharing also nurtures healing, hopefulness, courage flexibility, and >durable commitments. This is one way that God’s spirit knits our lives >together to abiding communion. We learn how much we share in common. >Loneliness, isolation, and alienation are weakened. Communion with one >another is strengthened. Commitments to do good are reinforced. Abilities >to shun harmful attitudes and activities are strengthened. The sharing of >our stories does all of this and much more. Perhaps the best of all is the >delight it brings to the hear of God. He loves stories. Even more, He loves >the story-makers. He delights in story-sharing because it helps Him >accomplish what He desires in our lives, namely, for us to become healed >and whole people who "walk in the light" with ourselves, others, and >Himself.>>>We are stories that need to be heard, known, honored, and celebrated. May >God give us trustworthy companions with whom we can share ourselves. And, >may God bless us with the freedom to overcome our fears of such openness. >So, I encourage each of us to share our stories. I have consistently >discovered that when I’ve opened myself honestly to others, the juice is >worth the squeeze.>>> ----- Original Message -----> From: Patty> > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 3:51 PM> Subject: Fw: Share Your Story>>> From: "Pam Young (by way of ilena rose)" <pamyoung73@...>> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 9:57 AM> Subject: Share Your Story>>> > Dear Sisters:> > My hometown newspaper in Ohio is writing an investigative report on >the> > complications of breast reconstructions. The reporter says she needs >more> > than just my story of how I was disabled by the TRAM Flap. If you have >a> > story you would like to share about the complications of Silicone & >Saline> > Implants or Tram Flaps and Latissimus Dorsi Flaps, please contact >> > Tucker at lauratucker@.... By telling your story, you may >help> > other women. Thank you, Pam.> >> > ~~~ pam, you might want to post this on alt.support.cancer.breast also >~~~> > very great work you are doing. love, ilena ~~~> >> >>>>