Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
|
|
Associated Press (12.20.07) - Friday, December 21, 2007
"I just broke down and started crying," said Richelle Starnes, 27, who fought two years for this outcome. "This has been very stressful for me and for my family, but there have been a lot of people who have made me continue to fight for what I was promised."
A Navy physician missed signs that Starnes' mother was having complications during pregnancy, and she was hastened to a non- Navy hospital where she contracted HIV during a blood transfusion. Starnes was born HIV-positive.
Previously, Starnes received a Navy designation allowing her to receive HIV treatment. But the Navy had more recently told her that it would no longer cover her inpatient hospital care or medications for HIV.
Pressure from Florida's congressional delegation, including Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Tom Feeny, helped change that stance. Nelson wrote Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking for his assistance; Feeny introduced private legislation to provide Starnes lifetime care.
"We appealed through the proper channels and got rejected twice," said a spokesperson for Nelson, Dan McLaughlin, who added that staffers in the office have been involved with this case since it began. "Bill himself got involved last month."
071221
AD072663
Copyright © 2007 - Information, Inc., Bethesda, MD. The CDC National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention provides the following information as a public service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis does not constitute CDC endorsement. This daily update also includes information from CDC and other government agencies, such as background on Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) articles, fact sheets, press releases and announcements. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News Update should be cited as the source of the information. Contact the sources of the articles abstracted below for full texts of the articles.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
.