3.19March

Eat or Medicate
By: Dan Hyde / Call to Action
As hard as it is to believe, one in three seniors
in this country routinely have to choose
between eating or taking their doctor’s prescribed
medications on a daily basis!
In this land of “plenty”, nobody should be forced to make that choice.
When a doctor prescribes a specific medication, the cost of the drug is
so outrageously high, the patient cuts the pill in half (or in quarters)
so that they can still have a meal for the day.
Obviously, the drug’s ability to cure the patient fails and the senior
continues down a sickly path. This can in extreme cases, requires a
senior’s hospitalization, which results in much higher costs!
This begs the question: WHY? The drug companies that profit from
our medical maladies and have a monopoly and control all drug
pricing, are the culprits. This is no surprise to anyone as we are aware
of these stories for decades.
The question then is, WHAT THE HELL CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT?
The answer: Holding your elected officials’ feet to the fire by legislating
action and force the drug companies to do what should be apparent to
anyone.
My Magic Carpet Ride
By: Sandy Lewis / Guardianship
My incredible adventure with Dan Roberts
and Rana Goodman began about five
years ago. Rana called and asked if I would like to
accompany them to the Grant Sawyer Building to hear testimony from
two women who were the adult daughters of two guardianship victims.
Both experienced the horror of parents being “legally abducted” and
placed into guardianship by private guardian April Parks.
After hearing their shocking testimony, I felt horrified, numb and
then angry. I knew then that I wanted to be part of their journey.
Up close, I began to see the clever and somewhat genius ideas Dan
& Rana formed to amend and reform Nevada’s guardians laws. These
two kind and brave people took on the worst and scariest people I had
ever heard of.
The next stop was the Clark County Commission meeting, chaired
by our now new governor, Steve Sisolak. Both Rana and I gave a three
minute speech to the commission, which ended with the removal of
Judge Charles Hoskin and Hearing Master John Norheim from hearing
adult guardianship cases.
Over the next two years, I allowed my life to revolve around Dan and
Rana. I became their eyes, ears and research person. I assisted whenever
needed. I watched Dan deliver petitions to the legislature in Carson City
and assisted in their Vegas Voice seminars all over the Las Vegas Valley.
All of us have seen their amazing results.
How could I facilitate recognition for these two magnificent people?
I nominated Rana for Senior Citizen of the Year 2016 and she won that
I certainly
understand
the profit
motive of a
drug company
and of course,
be profitable
to stay in
business! But
when a drug
patent ends
that company has had ample time to not only recover their investment
costs but reap huge profits.
It should be law, that when a patent runs out, these drugs must revert
to generic status with a guaranteed cost to the patient not to exceed $10.
That is not only the right thing to do, it is the most humanely thing
to do.
Those we elect are there to serve US. So far, they seem to be serving
the interests of those who profit from our misery.
Dan Hyde is a passionate and effective advocate for the senior
community. He can be reached at: dhyde9@cox.net.
With my friend Rana
award. Dan was later recognized and honored by the state and national
media for their Vegas Voice reporting of the guardianship scandal.
In closing, let us all continue to support the reform efforts by The
Vegas Voice and Dan & Rana - The Guardian Gladiator and her
Knight.
26
March 2019