CommInsure scandal reminds us commercial forces are at play in medicine

Abstract

A scandal has emerged involving the insurance giant CommInsure, following claims by the company’s (now ex) chief health officer that they purposefully sought to avoid paying health-related claims by using outdated disease definitions; dishonestly used medical reports; and denied claims for frivolous reasons. CommInsure has also been accused of deleting medical files and putting pressure on doctors to change their diagnoses so that claims can be rejected. The public reaction to the scandal has been intense, including calls for a royal commission. This reaction undoubtedly signifies anger and distrust towards the insurance industry. But it seems likely some of the public reaction also concerns the behaviour of the doctors who were employed by, or paid by, CommInsure, as they appear to have put the interests of a multi-billion-dollar company above those of seriously and terminally ill patients.