SHSH...DON'T TELL ...Page 6 >
My husband and I worked for Texas Instruments , and were transferred to Germany in 2005. I was 30 then, and perfectly healthy. I had a minor disc rupture. I was denied medical care for nearly 3 months in Germany- even though we paid their astronomical taxes (42%) and health insurance (14.5%). The health insurance company delays giving you your card, to save money apparently- even though the relocation people of employer who transfers you abroad tell your insurance coverage is immediate and covers everything.
As it turned for us, wasnt true (SHSH - DONT TELL Americans).
Essentially, I was forced to work in pain, because of our 18months contract. TI's lawyer said I had to fly back to the USA for my visa after 6 months - so I did - in pain. The flight farther aggravated my situation,and I had an emergency surgery in Phoenix. TI did not help. We paid$11K out of pocket. I spent 6 weeks in a hotel in bed, before going back to Germany (we were still on a contract). In Germany, I remained bed-ridden in pain - then when I could walk, pieces of my disc broke off into the nerve canal. I had another emergency surgery at the AlphaKlinik in Munich, paid out of pocket (we had a Public health insurance TKK, and AlphaKlinik was private - which is not covered by Public insurance) and was again bed-ridden. My knee had pain after this. I was ignorant that being 6months in bed makes one's knees unstable and weak. My husband took me to this amazing AlphaKlinik to see if there was a problem. They said I needed an emergency surgery to check for a torn medial meniscus. The surgeon performed an un-discussed, un-agreed upon surgical procedure on my healthy (per German investigation report) knee - shaving my patella cartilage. The procedure considers to be experimental in the literature. Now, I can barely use my knee, and my left leg is atrophied. I guess the surgeon knew, Americans can not sue German surgeons? Only 8% of German malpractice cases go to court, and only 6% of those prevail (according to "Law Library of Congress" web pages). And ... you need to have 'legal insurance', which mostly, only Germans even know about (SHSH - DONT TELL the Americans).
My disc, after these two surgeries, finally collapsed - which also caused my facet joints to fuse. But, I didnt know that. I was told I need an artificial disc replacement (ADR) - and hoorah, the world's best ADR surgeon was only an hour's drive. So, one year after my last spine surgery, I was told by this ADR surgeon that I was a perfect candidate.After that surgery, I could'nt even stand or sit without severe pain.The surgeon said there was no problem - its all in my head. After months, we found several international surgeons who reviewed my images,and said I was totally contraindicated to the ADR. Also, independent investigation by TKK presented to us a similar report stating that my spine surgery was a Grave Error in treatment. My surgeon in Germany said it was perfect (he claims 98% success). It turns out, the ADR surgeon shares patents on the device, and is a consultant for the company that makes the device. Are some American companies use some German surgeons to test out devices? (SHSH - DONT TELL the Germans)
I begged this ADR surgeon for help, but he ignored me. We searched for other surgeons in Germany who could take it out (as it was suggested to me by world's top ADR surgeons). A few that we found with experience, refused, saying they dont treat U.S. Citizens! I pleaded. They ignored me. We pleaded with T.I. for a transfer back to USA. They ignored us. I spent whole year bed-ridden in debilitating pain. Finally, we had to fly to Los Angeles to have the device removed (life-threatening traumatic surgery). We lost nearly all our savings.Then, TI terminated me while I was still, legally on disability. I did not complain-I was afraid to jeopardize my husband's job who worked for the same company. My husband complained to the US Embassy, US Chamber of Commerce in Germany, and EU Commission on Human Rights about discrimination. They said: Sorry, Although the Treaty of Amsterdam (Article 13) protects against all forms of discrimination in the E.U., this only applies for E.U.citizens - not for U.S. Citizens living and working in the E.U. (SHSH - DONT TELL the Americans).
Finally,when my husband was ready to leave the company (he had an offer from another company in California), TI 'allowed' us to pay our own way back to the USA (july 2008) - even though our contract says TI would 'repatriate' us if either of us losses our job due to circumstances beyond our control. But we were still grateful, my husband turned down the other job which paid $34,000/year more, and stayed with TI out of loyalty and camaraderie. After we arrived back to USA, from July 2008, he worked like mad to please his managers. Everyone was happy - until my husbands boss asked about my medical condition. My husband explained, that my fusion hardware caused pain, and I might need my screws removed. My husband's boss got mad and told him to go to LA again and make my surgeon to fix it. TI is self-funded with health-insurance, so any medical problems "cut" into profit-sharing, I suppose. (SHSH - DONT TELL the TI staff)
My husband was laid-off in January 2009. Although he had 14.5 years seniority, an Master in EE, multiple promotions, and superb performance reviews - he was laid-off while all the junior H-1B's in his group were kept. TI laid-off or 'retired' 3600 people, while at the same time applying for young H-1B foreigners. But TI is lobbying to congress about how they need emergency relief with even more H-1B visas. However, TI says it uses very few of them ... and its wages for H-1B's have fallen over 2% as compared to 2001, inflation adjusted (according to myvisajobs). (SHSH - DONT TELL the H-1B staff).
I keep reading about companies' ethics, the well-being of their employees, companies' awards and praises. BUT rarely journalists write about companies' mis-doings or unethical deeds. Is Corporate America that powerful? Is there nofreedom of speech left in this country? (SHSH - DONT TELL ANYONE...I might have said too much)
As it turned for us, wasnt true (SHSH - DONT TELL Americans).
Essentially, I was forced to work in pain, because of our 18months contract. TI's lawyer said I had to fly back to the USA for my visa after 6 months - so I did - in pain. The flight farther aggravated my situation,and I had an emergency surgery in Phoenix. TI did not help. We paid$11K out of pocket. I spent 6 weeks in a hotel in bed, before going back to Germany (we were still on a contract). In Germany, I remained bed-ridden in pain - then when I could walk, pieces of my disc broke off into the nerve canal. I had another emergency surgery at the AlphaKlinik in Munich, paid out of pocket (we had a Public health insurance TKK, and AlphaKlinik was private - which is not covered by Public insurance) and was again bed-ridden. My knee had pain after this. I was ignorant that being 6months in bed makes one's knees unstable and weak. My husband took me to this amazing AlphaKlinik to see if there was a problem. They said I needed an emergency surgery to check for a torn medial meniscus. The surgeon performed an un-discussed, un-agreed upon surgical procedure on my healthy (per German investigation report) knee - shaving my patella cartilage. The procedure considers to be experimental in the literature. Now, I can barely use my knee, and my left leg is atrophied. I guess the surgeon knew, Americans can not sue German surgeons? Only 8% of German malpractice cases go to court, and only 6% of those prevail (according to "Law Library of Congress" web pages). And ... you need to have 'legal insurance', which mostly, only Germans even know about (SHSH - DONT TELL the Americans).
My disc, after these two surgeries, finally collapsed - which also caused my facet joints to fuse. But, I didnt know that. I was told I need an artificial disc replacement (ADR) - and hoorah, the world's best ADR surgeon was only an hour's drive. So, one year after my last spine surgery, I was told by this ADR surgeon that I was a perfect candidate.After that surgery, I could'nt even stand or sit without severe pain.The surgeon said there was no problem - its all in my head. After months, we found several international surgeons who reviewed my images,and said I was totally contraindicated to the ADR. Also, independent investigation by TKK presented to us a similar report stating that my spine surgery was a Grave Error in treatment. My surgeon in Germany said it was perfect (he claims 98% success). It turns out, the ADR surgeon shares patents on the device, and is a consultant for the company that makes the device. Are some American companies use some German surgeons to test out devices? (SHSH - DONT TELL the Germans)
I begged this ADR surgeon for help, but he ignored me. We searched for other surgeons in Germany who could take it out (as it was suggested to me by world's top ADR surgeons). A few that we found with experience, refused, saying they dont treat U.S. Citizens! I pleaded. They ignored me. We pleaded with T.I. for a transfer back to USA. They ignored us. I spent whole year bed-ridden in debilitating pain. Finally, we had to fly to Los Angeles to have the device removed (life-threatening traumatic surgery). We lost nearly all our savings.Then, TI terminated me while I was still, legally on disability. I did not complain-I was afraid to jeopardize my husband's job who worked for the same company. My husband complained to the US Embassy, US Chamber of Commerce in Germany, and EU Commission on Human Rights about discrimination. They said: Sorry, Although the Treaty of Amsterdam (Article 13) protects against all forms of discrimination in the E.U., this only applies for E.U.citizens - not for U.S. Citizens living and working in the E.U. (SHSH - DONT TELL the Americans).
Finally,when my husband was ready to leave the company (he had an offer from another company in California), TI 'allowed' us to pay our own way back to the USA (july 2008) - even though our contract says TI would 'repatriate' us if either of us losses our job due to circumstances beyond our control. But we were still grateful, my husband turned down the other job which paid $34,000/year more, and stayed with TI out of loyalty and camaraderie. After we arrived back to USA, from July 2008, he worked like mad to please his managers. Everyone was happy - until my husbands boss asked about my medical condition. My husband explained, that my fusion hardware caused pain, and I might need my screws removed. My husband's boss got mad and told him to go to LA again and make my surgeon to fix it. TI is self-funded with health-insurance, so any medical problems "cut" into profit-sharing, I suppose. (SHSH - DONT TELL the TI staff)
My husband was laid-off in January 2009. Although he had 14.5 years seniority, an Master in EE, multiple promotions, and superb performance reviews - he was laid-off while all the junior H-1B's in his group were kept. TI laid-off or 'retired' 3600 people, while at the same time applying for young H-1B foreigners. But TI is lobbying to congress about how they need emergency relief with even more H-1B visas. However, TI says it uses very few of them ... and its wages for H-1B's have fallen over 2% as compared to 2001, inflation adjusted (according to myvisajobs). (SHSH - DONT TELL the H-1B staff).
I keep reading about companies' ethics, the well-being of their employees, companies' awards and praises. BUT rarely journalists write about companies' mis-doings or unethical deeds. Is Corporate America that powerful? Is there no
Posted by Anastasia at 1/12/2010 10:50 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: ProSpine Prodisc revision Prodisc bad outcome oversized Prodisc Texas Instruments fired disabled employee Dr.Bertagnoli and bad outcomes Texas Instruments Inc facets disc protrusion Prodisc Texas Instruments and Ethics Dr. Bertagnoli Straubing Germany Synthes disc prolapse DDD collapsed disc artificial disc replacement facet arthrosis Texas Instruments and Human Rights failed ADR ADR Dr.B Germany ADR contraindications Job13 grave error in treatment by Dr.Bertagnoli
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: ProSpine Prodisc revision Prodisc bad outcome oversized Prodisc Texas Instruments fired disabled employee Dr.Bertagnoli and bad outcomes Texas Instruments Inc facets disc protrusion Prodisc Texas Instruments and Ethics Dr. Bertagnoli Straubing Germany Synthes disc prolapse DDD collapsed disc artificial disc replacement facet arthrosis Texas Instruments and Human Rights failed ADR ADR Dr.B Germany ADR contraindications Job13 grave error in treatment by Dr.Bertagnoli
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