Mother's operation not approved

<p>Not wanting my mother to have to suffer going to a government hospital I have been paying for a medical aid for her the past 7 years or so. She has never really used it except for Dr's appointments and medication here and there. In early 2000 she began having problems with her neck. The vertabrae were crumbling. She was told that eventually she would need surgery but until then they would try other treatments. Over the years she has undergone physio, chiro, infiltration where they inject directly into the nerves. The first infiltration was paid by MS no problem. When she went for the same treatment last year, surprise surprise, 'Oh we don't pay for that anymore'</p> <p>The end of the road has arrived and the neurosurgeon has indicated that disc replacement surgery is now the only way to resolve things. </p> <p>She is in pain 24/7 which goes from agony to severe agony. She is unable to sleep properly. Driving almost brings her to her knees. She is unable to play with her grandchildren. Due to the pain she does not eat properly. Basically she has no quality of life. </p> <p>The neurosurgeon has told her that her spinal cord is so compromised by the crumbling discs that if she were to experience whiplash she would be an instant quadroplegic. </p> <p>The surgery was planned for this past Monday. The surgeon's rooms has been talking to MS for weeks making sure everything was covered. On Friday MS suddenly decided they wanted a physicians report on her general fitness to ensure she was ok to have the op. My mother cares for my 90 yo grandmother, does housework, gardening and can walk 10km without breaking a sweat!</p> <p>Nothing could be done so late on a Friday so the surgery was cancelled and moved to today. On Monday before she had chance to get to a physician MS turned down approval for the op and said she must first follow a more conservative treatment approach. </p> <p>She has been doing the conservative approach since 2002, there is no more conservative approach left. She isn't choosing to have major surgery. She didnt wake up one day and think, 'I'm bored, I think I'll have 3 discs replaced in my neck'</p> <p>2 Things are very clear</p> <p>- This wasn't a doctor that made the decision, just some bean counter/call centre agen.</p> <p> If it was a doctor, and after seeing her scans, xrays, reports still turned down the operation, he/she should be struck off imediately. </p> <p>- MS do not want to pay for the operation and are trying their damndest to avoid doing so. </p> <p>No wonder they are financially AA rated if they never pay for anything. </p> <p> </p> <p>MS please give me the name and address of the person who turned down my mothers operation so that when my mother becomes a quadraplegic I can drop her off and that person can then care for her for the rest of her life. </p> <p>We are now in the process of getting motivation reports from various doctors as obviously a motivation from a top neurosurgeon is not enough. Then its the ombudsman etc etc but she will have her operation!!</p>