[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORY OF ANDREW TEN

 Mrs BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today in memory of a 
remarkable young boy, and in tribute to his devoted family. Andrew Ten 
was just 12 years old when he passed away this week from complications 
resulting from a chronic neurologic, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal 
condition that left him physically handicapped for most of his short 
life. His life-treatening diseases required constant home medical and 
nursing care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  Andrew came to my attention through his father, Rabbi Harold Ten, 
whose devotion to and love for his son was equaled only by his 
perserverence and tenacity in fighting the injustices of the health 
insurance system millions of Americans must endure every day. I will 
not delve into the details of young Andrew's case, but suffice it to 
say that he and his family were the victims of a system that encourages 
capriciously unilateral decisionmaking by the medical-industrial 
complex that fails to account for the real-life, human tragedies that 
families confront every day.
  It was another example of how the understandable drive to hold down 
health care costs and maximize the profits often forces insurance 
carriers to make decisions that make no sense on a human level. It was 
an example of serious flaws and omissions in the laws protecting the 
consumer from health care system abuses, something we must not forget.
  It was also an example of how one person can wage a battle against 
the inertia that often results in injustice. If it were not for the 
intervention of my office, after I had been contacted by Rabbi Ten, 
young Andrew would not have received the critical medical care he 
needed. But, it should not have come to that. The law should have been 
enough to protect Andrew and his family.
  That is a fight for another day. Today, I want to offer my 
condolences to Rabbi Ten and his family on their loss. My heart goes 
out to them, who have fought so hard to prolong the life of their son 
and brother. I know that they will show the same courage and faith as 
they mourn his death.

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