This sounds like the kid was possibly self medicating his asthma

Oh FFS. This in a nutshell is why untrained people should just shut up about medicine.

First off, inhaled corticosteroids are first line medication for asthma in all but the mildest form combined almost always in concert with a long acting beta-agonist (LABA).

They are not first line medications for COPD but are added to the regimen when the first line medications (LABA, Long acting muscarinics and anti-cholinergics) fail.

And if you read the fking article he died using his rescue inhaler which can be used up to every five minutes if you're in an emergency. Which considering he was dying, he was.

It's another tragedy people are so cock-sure about their own insufficient knowledge and springboard off that directly into stupid ---- conclusions.

"It just doesn't add up"

When you're starting with the wrong numbers, it never does.

The reason his physician didn't get a PA is because he didn't know jack about it because the insurer and their buddies changed the rules at the counter. The pharmacist most definitely erred in doing nothing. I chuckle when pharmacists want expanded primary care roles and become a 'provider' while they can't even figure out an asthmatic might have severe respiratory compromise without his daily inhaler. Be sure to send home the diabetics without their Lantus while you're at it. JFC.

The pharmaaceutical pricing in the USA is an absolute catastrophe. You think Merck isn't making money off their meds in other countries? They jack up the prices insanely here because they can and that's it. Their 'we needz the $$ for research' is an absolute ---- lie. Most of their research is funded by us, the same people they screw on prices.

As far as Gracie goes, isn't she the one that was so proud she divorced her husband and got access to his benefits?

It's always the biggest leeches that spout off on self-reliance.

Republicans have either attempted or blocked every single attempt at price regulation. Let's be perfectly ---- clear on that.

ConservaDunces rhapsodize about letting the consumer decide via the free market. When the reality is, you can choose to pay the 500 bucks for the inhaler or choose death.

Some ---- choice.