DialysisEthics.org

09/05/2025

It was sad to see the old Ihatedialysis message board go to the wayside. It was started by a dialysis patient who went by Epoman (R.I.P). He was a patient who got tired of what he had to say stifled. The board was quite popular in its day.

However I did manage to save a message board thread about diabetes and heart disease. It was our first hand experience. The thread was started 4 years ago and still looks relevant today. Since we've changed our diet we haven't looked back. And since diabetes and kidney disease unfortunately go hand-in-hand, this seemed a good place to put a link to the thread: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/diabetes-heart-care-from-ihatedialysis-com

Also I should mention the successors of IHateDialysis do still have a presence on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IHateDialysis

This organization is a nationwide effort on the part of patients, healthcare workers,and family members to improve conditions in ESRD, transplants, and Dialysis

05/17/2025

It has been two weeks since my wife and I traveled to Omaha NE to try and hit a billionaire in the eye with our peashooters (ok, she might have been there more to see the sights - the zoo was very nice)

The following might give you an idea why many people are upset with Warren Buffett's investment style - and it doesn't just concern kidney dialysis. There is a pattern here (see beginning of blog)

Two weeks out and I'm still sleeping like a rock! I may have found my cure for insomnia!

This organization is a nationwide effort on the part of patients, healthcare workers,and family members to improve conditions in ESRD, transplants, and Dialysis

07/13/2024

Found out about these 'Community Dialysis Houses' for people who don't want or can't do Home Dialysis, but don't mind some self-care! I thought they were only in places like New Zealand, but Beth Witten at 'Home Dialysis Central' informed me there is at least one here in the US since 2009! Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/dialysis/comments/1e2i9zi/community_dialysis_houses/ P.S. When I'm not putting longer posts on Reddit, I do like to blog: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/component/tags/tag/billionaireredemptionornot-blog

04/28/2024

In a recent post on Reddit I mentioned the recent endorsement of the Omaha Walk on May 4th for kidney dialysis patients from NYT's best-selling author Tom Mueller. Also mentioned is why we are upset with Warren Buffett, what we have done this year, what we want, etc... Still a chance to sign our petition! https://www.change.org/p/immediate-dialysis-industry-reform-proper-congressional-medicare-oversight-to-save-lives?recruiter=844092808&recruited_by_id=602fa7a0-e536-11e7-8b83-eb8211e7dfaa&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=email Reddit Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/dialysis/comments/1cf7baj/endorsement_for_may_4th_omaha_walk_from_nyts/

Explore this post and more from the dialysis community

04/23/2024

I must admit for my soul job (kidney dialysis advocacy), I do like to start out on X - it is like a message board without borders! The character limits can be annoying, but that might good to shut me up at times. My latest tweet:

04/22/2024

Tom Mueller, NYT's best-selling author and author of the fairly recent book 'How To Make a Killing' had this to say about his recent interview with Dr. Ken Berry: "Terrific talk about America's broken dialysis industry with Dr. Ken Berry, which set off a response of 100s of listener live chat remarks and later comments to the YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZZbYNQX3J4o&ab_channel=KenDBerryMD
Thanks
for the great dialogue!"

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/immediate-dialysis-industry-reform-proper-congressional-medicare-oversight-to-save-lives?recruiter=844092808&recruited_by_id=602fa7a0-e536-11e7-8b83-eb8211e7dfaa&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=email&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3vobnNzaWq6PBwdNhkOjdOkpmADX5HWiBO8MLlUqn-eQLwbY6U7ECoboM_aem_Ab20VHFTPY3lfU4AvCc4RXZnqUZvwP7hzSM_egFJavQAw7CE4k_RQ_bDYV-FM2CGKCMVKhHjI_YIKwwu8Lubv4wv
May 4th Omaha Walk for kidney dialysis patients: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/9-blog/181-blog-23-new-spring-has-sprung-time-to-visit-warren-buffett-again?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3BshfK153jDBYg2Q4ysZIuqdWxlZjikAi4pMG3tj2KdyVZQNahQ4xBi3o_aem_Ab0Ypae3r98C7ZU_79yIHFpc3LFhqrcqjQ5MU-slAZjdt4tev1F-hiyLPTlPrm6MHXJ9lx3y8ezwZWTG8h-Y0cZo

The way dialysis patients are treated is terrible! The 2 major dialysis companies, Fresenius and Davita, both billion dollar corporations, have taken advanta...

04/18/2024

It was suggested I summarize things a bit to get people interested in signing the petition below, so here goes:

Two Asks:

*The big ask is to see the for-profits DaVita and Fresenius busted up into something like small care coops – and more on co-ops.

*take away the nephs exemption to the Stark Law. The law says doctors can't profit off their patients - but with the exemption nephs can! The exemption appears to stifle innovations like Community Dialysis Houses. A neph is more likely to recommend a clinic he has a financial interest in, then a Community Dialysis House he may not have a financial interest in.



It was asked how the for-profits abuse people:

*short, violent treatments that damage the heart
*understaffed clinics, with staff that are under trained and overworked

*all of the above with prices that have been called 'the highest in the industrialized world'

--The above is just a few things. There is a long list of things we would like to see. You can take a look at this list from DC's M.I. Mother's Keeper: https://healthydcandme.org/dialysis-resilience-hub/

Petition: https://www.change.org/p/immediate-dialysis-industry-reform-proper-congressional-medicare-oversight-to-save-lives?recruiter=844092808&recruited_by_id=602fa7a0-e536-11e7-8b83-eb8211e7dfaa&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=email&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1w3S9pDCvEvRHeO5lkBpciQiPNF0L1Z4qKWa5R_XSYJa2y-_RL98WqtLA_aem_AQIZFuUyom5Qm8eZegZna5dMS3MDbKlpP4Fihub-CzZ5BjPPJsIxImJ9QSPtiqNMNsFNZujxLXzCJnK7EaLOSJLw

May 4th Omaha Walk for kidney dialysis patients:
https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/9-blog/181-blog-23-new-spring-has-sprung-time-to-visit-warren-buffett-again

Immediate Dialysis Industry Reform & Proper Congressional Medicare Oversight to Save Lives

04/13/2024

Still getting ready for a trip to Omaha May 4th for Warren Buffett's event! Not exactly there to party with him. Details: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/hq-save-the-billionaires-updates But first I'm trying to get in a question I've had for him and CNBC since last year: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/moreinfo/184-2024-warren-buffett-and-berkshire-hathaway-annual-meeting-an-unanswered-question Guess he has been busy.

And I'll say unfortunately the legend of the magnanimous, benevolent teddy bear billionaire has been blown apart for me. This Reading list might help you understand why: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/13-information/147-suggested-reading-list-for-may-2024-save-the-billionaires-or-not-walk-in-omaha-ne

Can't make the May 4th event? Then you might consider signing the following petition and helping us out: https://www.change.org/p/immediate-dialysis-industry-reform-proper-congressional-medicare-oversight-to-save-lives?recruiter=844092808&recruited_by_id=602fa7a0-e536-11e7-8b83-eb8211e7dfaa&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=email

Immediate Dialysis Industry Reform & Proper Congressional Medicare Oversight to Save Lives

04/08/2024

I will mention NYT's best-selling author Tom Mueller has shown an interest in attending this Omaha event, author of 'How To Make a Killing' a book that takes a hard look at kidney dialysis. This isn't only a fight for the soul of kidney dialysis, but a thumb in the eye of the worst of monopoly power! (as Tom Mueller was asking at a zoom meeting, are we providing a road map to improve other areas of medicine?)

The rest of MI M.I. Mother's Keeper, of which I'm a part of, has also shown an interest in attending this event. They along with Tom Mueller and SEIU, the big labor union, were part of a DC Press Conference on January 31st in front of many of our federal reps. Dr. Rhonda Hamilton and M.I. Mother's Keeper also headed up a Feb. 29th 'Rally To Congress', which I attended, where we told our stories not only in front of the Capitol building but also at the offices of Federal Representatives Maxine Waters (CA) and Jason Crow (CO).

It would be nice to have a band for the meetup area in Omaha to draw people in. But you can also sign a petition:
https://www.change.org/p/immediate-dialysis-industry-reform-proper-congressional-medicare-oversight-to-save-lives?recruiter=844092808&recruited_by_id=602fa7a0-e536-11e7-8b83-eb8211e7dfaa&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=email

Summary of Events so far:
https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/30-solutions-and-concerns

https://gofund.me/f50b3e29

Hi, my name is Chris and this 20+ year Kidney Dialysis Advocate is … Chris Schwab needs your support for SaveTheBillionaires(or not) Walk in Omaha NE, May 4th

03/31/2024

Long on caring, but short on time? And need more convincing before signing a petition? This summary of our recent one-two punch in DC might help (a January 31st Press Conference and a 'Rally to Congress' on Feb. 29th) https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/30-solutions-and-concerns/182-summary-of-concerns-and-solutions-in-kidney-dialysis?fbclid=IwAR1ZTVCnue2cMqwZOwedDqa6mnJSs_L2P6cFfCCf4S1qqgRQeTejyAoQtUk_aem_AS9bSVE-B8fmM9iSeKztxvOMG3I1aJVbRUcQ5gA7d30VcO5Pmw0MkHrYe0WTdFY_nM4GRg5NylO9jl4Ihkrpputu The worst of monopoly power abuse - everybody's problem!!

Immediate Dialysis Industry Reform & Proper Congressional Medicare Oversight to Save Lives

03/30/2024

I'm a part of the group M.I. Mother's Keeper out of Washington D.C. which completed a 'Rally to Congress' in DC demanding better care for kidney dialysis - which I attended. We are asking people to sign the following petition, it is more than just about kidney dialysis, it is about fighting the worst of monopoly power abuse! https://www.change.org/p/immediate-dialysis-industry-reform-proper-congressional-medicare-oversight-to-save-lives?recruiter=844092808&recruited_by_id=602fa7a0-e536-11e7-8b83-eb8211e7dfaa&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=email Our rally was a one-two punch that included a Press Conference on January 31st in DC, it was attended by NYT's best-selling author Tom Mueller and the labor union SEIU. A summary of our concerns and solutions is on this webpage: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/30-solutions-and-concerns/182-summary-of-concerns-and-solutions-in-kidney-dialysis Also a Walk is in the works in Omaha NE on May 4th: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/9-blog/181-blog-23-new-spring-has-sprung-time-to-visit-warren-buffett-again

Immediate Dialysis Industry Reform & Proper Congressional Medicare Oversight to Save Lives

03/17/2024

And a bonus intro: https://dialysisethics2.org/index.php/articles/13-information/148-introduction

Implement Reforms in the Dialysis Industry and Ensure Proper Congressional and Medicare Oversight