A superintendent in Indiana was arrested and charged with three felonies this month after using her own health insurance to help a student obtain medical care when he had strep throat.
Casey Smitherman reportedly visited the student at home after he was out sick from school in Elwood, Indiana, on January 9. Noticing his symptoms of strep throat, Smitherman took him to one medical clinic that denied care to the uninsured 15-year-old. That's when she visited a second clinic and falsely identified the boy as her own son so that he could be treated.
"I knew he did not have insurance, and I wanted to do all I could to help him get well," says Smitherman. "I'm not saying it was right. I'm really sorry. I just was scared for him."
Still, she was charged with insurance fraud, insurance application fraud and identity deception, although the DA's office has since made a deal with her to drop the charges if she avoids arrest for a year.
Meanwhile, the local school board has supported Smitherman. "She made an unfortunate mistake, but we understand that it was out of concern for this child's welfare," said school board president Brent Kane. "We know she understands what she did was wrong, but she continues to have our support."
So sad that we even have to worry about things like this in our great country.