Hundred of people paid their last respects for Nataline Sarkisyan a 17 year old Northridge, CA Teen who died after Cigna Healthcare delayed in approving a Liver Transplant for her. Cigna Insurance Co. initially denied the life saving procedure claiming it was not effective and appropriate.Mark Geragos, an Attorney that has been retained by the family, intends to initiate legal action against Cigna Insurance Co. which purposefully waited until Ms. Sarkisyan was near death before approving the surgery. Mr. Geragos, said that within 48 hours of Ms. Sarkisyan's death, that he received e-mail after e-mail from Cigna employees who said that it was corporate policy---to Deny, Deny, Deny.
Nataline was diagnosed with leukemia at age 14 and after 2 years of treatment the cancer went into remission but returned this past summer. Her physicians discovered that her brother was a match for a bone marrow transplant and he donated the bone marrow 1 day before Thanksgiving. Nataline developed complications from the bone marrow transplant because her liver was failing and doctors recommended a transplant.
Cigna Insurance Company refused to pay for the necessary surgery but reversed its decision following media attention and negative publicity but by that time Ms. Sarkisyan was near death and too ill and passed away hours later.
One year ago, I offered to donate a Kidney to a former Studio Owner dying from renal failure, before the life saving procedure could be performed the Central California resident passed away due to bureaucracy.
