🚀 go-pugleaf

Another Outraged Worker <OW@fubar.com> writes:

> For all those people living in the Bay Area who happen to have been
> injured on the job, I'd like to issue the following warnings:

> 1. If the workers comp insurance company that your employer is using
>    is called "CNA", be highly suspicious of them. They are extremely 
>    shifty and will use any and all means to ensure that your claim 
>    will not be taken seriously and they will make any and all attempt 
>    at skirting around workers comp laws. Furthermore, do not trust
>    any doctor whom they recommend or to whom they send you. If a doctor
>    or his nurse claims to have worked with CNA extensively before, then
>    find another. The local workers compensation industry is, to be blunt,
>    a racket -- a scam -- and CNA is an established player in this
>    ongoing debacle.

> 2. If you can avoid dealing with occuptional health doctors named either
>    Lowengart or Pugh, both working on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, then
>    do so. Both of these doctors not only have very little if any competence,
>    but they offset their lack of ability by an unusual flair for
>    playing along with the Workers Comp Industry Scam. Yes folks, 
>    They lie. They cheat. They'd probably even push a button to get a chunk 
>    of banana, if you paid them to.  And, unfortunately, either of these will 
>    systematically refuse to believe that you the worker are injured, 
>    they will lie to you about your condition and how it should be treated,
>    they will fail to inform you of your options or they will offer options 
>    which would be destructive to your health and career, and they will do 
>    whatever they possibly can to end your treatment prematurely.

> Hence I say, PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS; the medical con-artist class will not.


	The unfortunate thing about Workers Comp is that you
	give up your right to civil action.  It's a trade off.
	In return for govt intervention, you generally lose your 
	right to sue your employer in court.  Unfortunately, abuse
	has been a two way street.  Theoretically, an employer's
	negligence can result in your death, but because you
	come under the purview of Workers' Comp. your estate 
	may only get a pre-determined amount for your losses.
	Last I looked, which was a long while ago, I think
	death was $100,000 and loss of limb was $50,000 and loss 
	of a hand was $10,000.  (A long while ago.)  
-- 
jzero@netcom.com
S.F., CA

In article <jzeroCuoCp0.M9M@netcom.com> jzero@netcom.com (Jim Nakamura) writes:
>Another Outraged Worker <OW@fubar.com> writes:
>
>> For all those people living in the Bay Area who happen to have been
>> injured on the job, I'd like to issue the following warnings:
>
>> 1. If the workers comp insurance company that your employer is using
>>    is called "CNA", be highly suspicious of them. They are extremely 
>>    shifty and will use any and all means to ensure that your claim 
>>    will not be taken seriously and they will make any and all attempt 
>>    at skirting around workers comp laws. Furthermore, do not trust
>>    any doctor whom they recommend or to whom they send you. If a doctor
>>    or his nurse claims to have worked with CNA extensively before, then
>>    find another. The local workers compensation industry is, to be blunt,
>>    a racket -- a scam -- and CNA is an established player in this
>>    ongoing debacle.
>
>> 2. If you can avoid dealing with occuptional health doctors named either
>>    Lowengart or Pugh, both working on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, then
>>    do so. Both of these doctors not only have very little if any competence,
>>    but they offset their lack of ability by an unusual flair for
>>    playing along with the Workers Comp Industry Scam. Yes folks, 
>>    They lie. They cheat. They'd probably even push a button to get a chunk 
>>    of banana, if you paid them to.  And, unfortunately, either of these will 
>>    systematically refuse to believe that you the worker are injured, 
>>    they will lie to you about your condition and how it should be treated,
>>    they will fail to inform you of your options or they will offer options 
>>    which would be destructive to your health and career, and they will do 
>>    whatever they possibly can to end your treatment prematurely.
>
>> Hence I say, PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS; the medical con-artist class will not.
>
>
>	The unfortunate thing about Workers Comp is that you
>	give up your right to civil action.  It's a trade off.
>	In return for govt intervention, you generally lose your 
>	right to sue your employer in court.  Unfortunately, abuse
>	has been a two way street.  Theoretically, an employer's
>	negligence can result in your death, but because you
>	come under the purview of Workers' Comp. your estate 
>	may only get a pre-determined amount for your losses.
>	Last I looked, which was a long while ago, I think
>	death was $100,000 and loss of limb was $50,000 and loss 
>	of a hand was $10,000.  (A long while ago.)  
>-- 
>jzero@netcom.com
>S.F., CA

    What the employer lost was the ability to sue the worker, charging
that she/he was careless and caused damage to the plant or others.
The problem developed that it became cheaper to disable a worker than to
provide for protection.  There have been some horrible examples of
unsafe working conditions here in North Carolina.  The state inspects a
workplace only once every 15 years or so.  A chicken plant fire several
years ago killed and injured scores.  All the exit doors were blocked or
nailed shut.  After an initial outcry, the story disappeared from the
news and that was the end of that.  One bureaucracy agreed to talk to
another if they saw a violation.  That was about it.



-- 
# George Conklin; George@NCCU.EDU  |  Edison did not have a fancy      #
# N. C. Central University         |  internet signature.              #
# Durham, North Carolina USA       |  That means that I cannot either  #
# 919 560-6222 (work)              |  since he didn't tell me how.     #

george conklin (george@nccu.edu) wrote:
: In article <jzeroCuoCp0.M9M@netcom.com> jzero@netcom.com (Jim Nakamura) writes:
: >Another Outraged Worker <OW@fubar.com> writes:
: >
: >> For all those people living in the Bay Area who happen to have been
: >> injured on the job, I'd like to issue the following warnings:
: >
: >> 1. If the workers comp insurance company that your employer is using
: >>    is called "CNA", be highly suspicious of them. They are extremely 
: >>    shifty and will use any and all means to ensure that your claim 
: >>    will not be taken seriously and they will make any and all attempt 
: >>    at skirting around workers comp laws. Furthermore, do not trust
: >>    any doctor whom they recommend or to whom they send you. If a doctor
: >>    or his nurse claims to have worked with CNA extensively before, then
: >>    find another. The local workers compensation industry is, to be blunt,
: >>    a racket -- a scam -- and CNA is an established player in this
: >>    ongoing debacle.

Some people in medical circles refer to offices filled with doctors who 
do nothing but medical evaluations for insurance companies "insurance 
mills."   The only reason for an injured worker to visit an insurance 
mill is for the mandated examination(s) by "their" doctor(s) that an 
insurance company is entitled by law to demand of a worker.  For care and 
advocacy, workers should find independent physicians in private 
practice. 

: >> 2. If you can avoid dealing with occuptional health doctors named either
: >>    Lowengart or Pugh, both working on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, then
: >>    do so. Both of these doctors not only have very little if any competence,
: >>    but they offset their lack of ability by an unusual flair for
: >>    playing along with the Workers Comp Industry Scam. Yes folks, 
: >>    They lie. They cheat. They'd probably even push a button to get a chunk 
: >>    of banana, if you paid them to ...

Some doctors rely heavily on referrals from insurance companies, as do 
some hospitals.  Unfortunately, practical politics often leads them to 
do everything in their power to come up with findings that the insurance 
company would prefer them to make.

: >> Hence I say, PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS; the medical con-artist class will not.

This is good advice. It usually comes from hindsight.  When a worker is 
sick or injured, the instinctive reaction to doctors and insurers is to 
seek help.  If bad faith exists, (and, not infrequently, it does), the 
worker is often manipulated into a position that will prejudice later 
administrative hearings in favor of the insurer.

: >	The unfortunate thing about Workers Comp is that you
: >	give up your right to civil action.  It's a trade off.
: >	In return for govt intervention, you generally lose your 
: >	right to sue your employer in court.  Unfortunately, abuse
: >	has been a two way street.  

Right.  This is called " ... the doctrine of 'exclusive remedy.'"
Since worker comp. insurance is mandated by law, the employer who meets 
this legal obligation is protected from civil litigation from employees.  
However, shortcomings of worker comp carriers and the  administrative 
hearing process which is the sole means or recourse for an injured 
worker have led many workers to feel that their real interests are not 
represented in the system.

The problem is, like so many other spheres, that workers who aren't 
injured never think to check to see if they are really protected.  By the 
time they discover that they are, in effect, un-insured, it is far too 
late to fix.
-- 
Glen Kohler, CMT
Health Arts Wellness Services
P.O. Box 9719  Berkeley, CA  94709
510-845-8485

Another Outraged Worker (OW@fubar.com) wrote:
: For all those people living in the Bay Area who happen to have been
: injured on the job, I'd like to issue the following warnings:

: 1. If the workers comp insurance company that your employer is using
:    is called "CNA", be highly suspicious of them. They are extremely 
:    shifty and will use any and all means to ensure that your claim 
:    will not be taken seriously and they will make any and all attempt 
:    at skirting around workers comp laws. Furthermore, do not trust
:    any doctor whom they recommend or to whom they send you. If a doctor
:    or his nurse claims to have worked with CNA extensively before, then
:    find another. The local workers compensation industry is, to be blunt,
:    a racket -- a scam -- and CNA is an established player in this
:    ongoing debacle.


	The worker's comp program is being ripped off by unethical 
	people for millions of dollars. I know of small companies
	which have been put into dificult financial situation due
	to employees claiming injury to get workers comp.

	I'l happy to hear there is more checking going on, as
	in the end I have to pay for all the fraud. After looking
	at 60 Minuutes segment on it, you get an idea of how many
	fraudulant claims are filed.
	
: 2. If you can avoid dealing with occuptional health doctors named either
:    Lowengart or Pugh, both working on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, then
:    do so. Both of these doctors not only have very little if any competence,
.
. deleted
.


		Sounds like you have a personal problem with 
		a couple of doctors. IF you have a legitimate 
		claim, I hope you get whats due to you.

: Hence I say, PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS; the medical con-artist class will not.

		hmm...

--kim