This is an appeal for Matthew Ruiz a 26 year old, high achieving UCSD graduate that was involved in a serious car accident on March 28,2008 in Ramona California.We as concerned family, friends and community are appealing to you to step in and hold Kaiser Permanente Medical Center accountable for their complete mismanagement of Matthew’s care. Kaiser to date has put Matthew, by their own actions into 2 near death emergency situations because of their complete lack of experience in dealing with trauma and brain injury patients and the scope of care and treatment this involves.On a daily basis Kaiser is continuing to be neglectful in Matthew’s care by not making available to him the proper therapists that deal with brain injuries, something Kaiser promised would be provided when Kaiser basically threatened the family to get Matthew out of Palomar Medical Center, the trauma center he was initially air lifted to, or the family would have to incur the cost of Matthew’s care. Matthew has now been in the Kaiser Medical facility for 60 days and the only stimulation and therapy he receives is from friends and family members (not professionals)who are at his bedside 16-18 hours daily working with him which is the standard of care for this type of injury per numerous out of Kaiser network brain injury specialists that have observed Matthew and consulted with the family. Kaiser has refused 2 meetings to discuss his care or lack of care . Moreover, they continue to electronically chart inaccurate /misleading statements regarding the treatment he is receiving and the training they are providing family members. It appears they are doing this in an effort to create an appearance that Matthew does not qualify for mid-level rehab or acute rehab. Their intentional delay in approving the necessary treatment Matthew needs and complete lack of medical attention are undoubtedly causing severe harm to Matthew’s recovery. At this point in time because Kaiser has convinced us that they do not have Matthew’s best interest at heart, all the family is requesting of Kaiser is to provide them with the proper equipment and equipment training, the proper and appropriate out of Kaiser network physician (due to lack of confidence in the Kaiser system) who has extensive training with brain injury patients and the appropriate therapists and training for the family to work with Matthew at home to move him forward. We are appealing to you all as parents, grandparents and concerned human beings to not let this abuse of Matthew continue i at the hands of the Kaiser system.

Read more about Matt’s situation at www.mateoruiz.com/blog