Jesus Cornelio v. Banner Health

Earlier this week, I posted some video news reports on the Phoenix, Arizona case of Jesus Cornelio.  As the case is not in litigation and neither the family nor the hospital has released detailed facts, it is difficult to make informed comments.  It is unclear if this is a medical futility case, a medical deportation case, or what.  According the ABC News and other independent news sources, at least the following facts appear to be true:

• The patient's brain was without oxygen for more than 10 minutes, which doctors say caused severe damage to his brain.


• The patient is not a U.S. citizen.


• The patient does not have health insurance.


• The patient does not qualify for Arizona Medicaid.


• The patient's medical expenses to date total about $120,000.

The hospital has apparently told the family that (by October 4) it will either discharge the patient home on hospice or to Mexico long-term care.  Presumably, no domestic long-term care transfer can be made without a payment source.  It is unclear who would pay for hospice.  But the family appears unready for hospice in any case.  They say that he is getting better.