April 5, 2008. The woman was not refused treatment, did have insurance, and was the Manager of a Pizza Hut. But as Clinton tells it "The hospital said, 'Well, you don't have insurance.' She said, 'No, I don't.' They said, 'Well, we can't see you until you give $100.' She said, 'Where am I going to get $100?'"
Clinton's been claiming for five weeks that this is why the woman and her baby both died. As usual, Clinton has not admitted any error, but now "respects" the hospital which says she got it all wrong.
Over the last five weeks, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has featured in her campaign stump speeches the story of a health care horror: an uninsured pregnant woman who lost her baby and died herself after being denied care by an Ohio hospital because she could not come up with a $100 fee.
Clinton, known for her use of facts and details, had heard this from someone who heard it secondhand and had not checked any of it. Except for the two deaths, every important fact was wrong. She could have checked by simply phoning the non-profit hospital. Neither she nor her campaign ever took this simple step. The press and hospital tracked down the story.
The woman was not refused treatment and did have insurance, and was the Manager of a Pizza Hut. But as Clinton tells it "The hospital said, 'Well, you don't have insurance.' She said, 'No, I don't.' They said, 'Well, we can't see you until you give $100.' She said, 'Where am I going to get $100?'"
full story in NYT
