Only after tremendous pressure from the community and the efforts of the National Nurses Organization Committee did Cigna agree to provide coverage, but it was, of course, too little too late.
The question is what made an insurance company think it knew better than the medical doctors who were pleading with them to give a green light?
We have a huge problem when our insurance companies prioritize ensuring shareholder gains at the expense of human lives.
Here exists a textbook example of conflict of interest when a health insurance provider is a publicly traded corporation, and due to this very fact many have suffered and will continue to suffer, needlessly I may add, until some serious issues are addressed.
I refuse to be a shareholder of an insurance company because I am all too aware that the dividends paid out to me, which are derived from the excess in net income, come directly from the savings of the company that denied coverage to those it was obligated to take care of.
Improving our healthcare system needs to be a bigger priority; we deserve better, and I’m confident we can have better.
EDWIN DAVIDIAN
Glendale
Bad dais behavior should be dealt with
City Council members voted 3-2 to not accept a code of conduct requested by Mayor Ara Najarian to control disruptive behavior, which is interfering with the council’s ability to conduct city business (“Conduct rules die on dais,” Saturday).
Three council members argued that 1) a code arising from one incident of misbehavior isn’t necessary; 2) they don’t need to change because they are what they are; and 3) past council members who behaved badly got away with it, and passionate personal feelings justify disregard for others.
Two council members said that 1) the council has a collective track record of unacceptable behavior; and 2) the twin abuses of unchecked interruptions and prolonged unfocused orations intrude too much on council time and agendas.
The city attorney’s research indicates a number of cities do have codes of conduct, which guide councils as to what is and isn’t appropriate behavior.
City Atty. Scott Howard said Robert’s Rules of Order also deals with behavior issues and its conventions could certainly be invoked to reduce, if not eliminate, troublesome activity.
The same can be said for the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.
However, adult human beings incapable of self discipline do not accept social standards other people live by.
That’s why rules and police exist in a society. Voters also decide whose behavior is conducive to getting city business done, and perhaps the next council election can resolve a few behavioral problems.
SUSAN N. STEPHENSON
Glendale
