No picture!

How do they know the pictures weren't taken before her depression began and she just put them on her page?

Unless she had a caption with them stating they were recent, they wouldn't know.

I suppose what is said on her wall would also be telling.

For once I side with the insurance company. I personally know someone gaming the system using "depression" as their disability.

That's why you make your facebook page private.

I have a couple nieces in college and they were clowning around and posted pictures of themselves drinking beer and acting drunk.

Since one will be looking for a job in the spring and the other a year later I told them to delete those pictures.

#2 | POSTED BY LISA
"How do they know the pictures weren't taken before her depression began and she just put them on her page?"

And then there's the point that since she was suffering from severe depression, perhaps the Chippendales were exactly what she needed! One could call it therapy, and since she didn't bill her insurance company for THAT, what's their problem?

Think of the possibilities of this new technology.

I had no idea we had the ability to make a medical diagnosis from a photogragh.

That's why you make your facebook page private.
#4 | Posted by Pirate

Yep.

#3-----"Someone gaming the system"

Watched this behavior for years, not only in disability but also workers compensation. Like the corruption in Washington you get tired of it but what can you do.

The rule of FB posting is:

If you wouldn't feel comfortable explaining it in front of a congressional hearing in defense of your appointment to office, then don't post it.

Of course seeing the picture makes me wonder even more how you could make a medical diagnosis from it. It's a pretty crappy picture.

Did you see the online poll attached to the article?

"Do you think Facebook should be used against employees?"
Yes 51%
No 43%
I don't know 6%

I'm sorry, but I don't get this at all. How could anyone, let alone a majority be for that?

If you new that someone was taking advantage of you and it was costing you money so they could hang out with strippers and go to the beach, wouldn't it piss you off?

Unless this person was hospitalized for depression, being this long off is bogus---it is well known in accepted psychiatry that part of the treatment for individuals (once stabilized) is to keep them in a routine and work is part of that routine--- one of the worse things you can do for a person with real deprssion is to let them stay home thinking about their problems--- there are also official disability guidelines for the amount of time a depressive person should be off. This woman along with her healthcare provider are bogus and abusing the system.

By the way people like this (patient and healthcare provider) who cheat the system once again are costing the rest of us who don't play the system.

Interesting that the article calls disability payments "health benefits", perhaps since they have medical utopia up there, they call disability "health benefits"?

Where's the ACLU on this one, they should have Major Woody all over this case (or do they not mess with Canada?)

:P

I've been concerned about taking sick time ever since I friended a coworker on XBox Live.

I would love to have a followup on this case in one year--- now that the benefits are cut off, I'll bet she will suddenly become better and be back to work if she is need of money.

Mat:

I'm not saying that this woman was faking or not.

I will tell you that during a part of my life, I was having panic attacks so bad, I would pass out. I couldn't control them nor would meds help.

I had to take a medical leave until I could get them under control on my own after a very long period of time.

I know how depression and panic attacks can cause one not to function.

Your statement that you'd like to see what happens in a year, to see if she goes back to work because she needs the money isn't completely thought out.

Some people go to work with those conditions and can't maintain a suitable level of performance and eventually will be let go.

People often go to work against doctors orders and suffer through it because they have no other choice.

And please remember....I'm not talking about the woman in this case.

Mat:
I'm not saying that this woman was faking or not.
I will tell you that during a part of my life, I was having panic attacks so bad, I would pass out. I couldn't control them nor would meds help.
I had to take a medical leave until I could get them under control on my own after a very long period of time.
I know how depression and panic attacks can cause one not to function.
Your statement that you'd like to see what happens in a year, to see if she goes back to work because she needs the money isn't completely thought out.
Some people go to work with those conditions and can't maintain a suitable level of performance and eventually will be let go.
People often go to work against doctors orders and suffer through it because they have no other choice.
And please remember....I'm not talking about the woman in this case.
#19 | Posted by Lisa at 2009-11-22 08:56 PM

Most people are suffering from multiple forms of depression - it's entirely natural to be disturbed by bad, horrible or tragic circumstances. That will always impact us somehow and our workplace generally doesn't encompass allowing for that medical knowledge to be used without our knowledge, how any insurance agency can do this legally is beyond my understanding, and is outside of their understanding of how to treat depression.

They are arguing that her HMO shouldn't have covered Chip and Dales and probably not the Enya CD, expensive toilet paper or bath salts either. I would sue them for violating my privacy - as an agency they are not obligated to make a psychological evaluation based on a web site or even a doctors visit - that is entirely the dominion of the health professionals their insurance pays.

Just one more very good reason to detach ourselves from them entirely.

And please remember....I'm not talking about the woman in this case.

#19 | Posted by Lisa

Thanks for the input---maybe I've become a little jaded since in one of my businesses I've seen too much abusive behavior by certain folks within the disability area.

I understand Mat.

I've been a business owner as well as management positions and I've seen it all too.

Also, if they were to use Facebook data as an psychological evaluation what is their standard for determining abnormal or deviance from the images that other people post? Perhaps it's important for people to hide any "imperfections" and create an image of themselves online that is quite different from reality? Sue these bastards.

For once I side with the insurance company. I personally know someone gaming the system using "depression" as their disability.

#3 | Posted by danni at 2009-11-21 08:46 PM | Reply | Flag: THAT SHOULD BE 'TWICE' FOR YOU, BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW YOU VILIFY THOSE DEVIL INSURANCE COMPANIES

Seems to me when you post pictures on the net they become public for anyone to look at. It would be no different than a PI going down to the beach and taking pictures of her living the good life on someone elses dime.

#3...so, Danni, did you report this crook????

Seems to me when you post pictures on the net they become public for anyone to look at. It would be no different than a PI going down to the beach and taking pictures of her living the good life on someone elses dime.
#25 | Posted by Sniper at 2009-11-23 12:26 PM

It would be, other than the fact that they are denying her medical benefits based on their own psychological evaluation and presumptions rather than factual medical information. If she enjoyed her birthday party she should be punished?! Sue this insurance agency.