Petition to Save the Grady Dialysis Patients

Private Dialysis Providers of Atlanta, Georgia:
Fresenius Medical Care North America
Emory Dialysis
Dialysis Clinics, Inc.
DSI
Renal Care Partners

After August 31, 2010, thirty three (33) uninsured End-Stage-Renal Disease patients of Grady Memorial Hospital will no longer receive their life-sustaining dialysis treatments. As advocates for human life, we the undersigned ask that your companies, the dialysis providers for the Atlanta region, supply these thirty three (33) indigent patients with ongoing dialysis treatment.

In September 2009, Grady Memorial Hospital closed its outpatient dialysis clinic. At this time the uninsured patients, most of whom are immigrants, were supplied dialysis for one year from Fresenius dialysis facilities as specified in the Grady Memorial Hospital - Fresenius contract. On August 31, 2010 this contract expires. To date, no alternative source of dialysis treatment has been made available to the remaining thirty-three patients.

It is apparent that the patients will die within weeks of the August 31st deadline if nothing is done. In fact, 50% of the patients who returned to their countries of origin have since died, while only 6% of those who have remained in this country to receive dialysis have perished.  While some may seek dialysis treatment from the emergency department of hospitals in their respective counties, it is clear that their treatment schedule will be chaotic, and more expensive, if dialysis is supplied at all. Death is inevitable if they are not provided with consistent dialysis treatments. The patients and their families are seriously distressed with the August 31st deadline quickly approaching.

We know that your companies are not the cause of this problem; however, it is clear that you do have the resources and financial means to provide continuous dialysis treatment for these patients. We are also aware of the fact that you have in the past elected to supply dialysis to indigent patients at no cost. We applaud your history of generosity which indicates your recognition of your moral responsibility. In this we ask you to extend your dialysis services to these thirty three patients by acting today.

In return for supplying them with dialysis, the Advocates for Responsible Care (ARxC), the non-profit patient advocacy organization representing the interests of these patients, will honor your efforts with positive recognition in the press and media. Even more important, you will have the eternal gratitude of these patients.  In addition, ARxC is investigating the possibility of receiving dialysis supplies at a reduced price through special programs. The option of having the patients make payments based on a sliding scale to help cover the cost of their treatments is being explored.

Please contact the Advocates for Responsible Care at 404-633-5843 or by emailing the organization%u2019s president, Dorothy-Leone Glasser, at dlg@wisdomofwellnessproject.com at your earliest convenience to see how you can work together to save the lives of these patients.

The Grady dialysis patients and their families are entirely dependent upon your swift action. Please uphold your mission to serve the needs of those suffering from Kidney Failure and offer your services to these minority patients.

Thank you for your interest,

On line pettition posted at: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/dialysis-crisis

Advoactes for Responsible Care %uFFFD   http://www.advoactesforresponsiblecare.org/