If insurance took care of diseases, this kind of raising money would not have been there, and hence no false maladies. At least, she didn't steal, and people gave what they could do without

If she used a fake illness to raise money, she did indeed steal in my book. If she's mental, she needs to seek treatment.

It's the responsibility of insurance companies to take care of diseases. Insurance helps cover the cost of medical tests, procedures, doctor's appointments, and medications. Do we have a perfect system here? No. Does anyone? No. But that's irrelevant.

The people who "take care of diseases" are researchers. Research costs money, especially when you have to consider how to test those diseases. You can't just wait for someone to come along who has it to do tests. It's difficult work. Plus, it is a job, which means you have to pay salaries.

So should those people work for free just because they're smart and decided to dedicate their lives to helping people? Also, if insurance companies for for everything, then how are we supposed to have money to pay for researchers to "take care of diseases"?

Clearly you didn't think this through.

correction for above: It's NOT the responsibility...

jeff-1484833 - No, I didn't read anywhere in the article that she "suffers from a severe mental illness". I read that her attorney says she has a "psychosomatic condition" that made her believe she had a cancer-like illness. Oh please...don't you know that is strictly her attorney talking to defend her??? I know the attorney is doing his/her job, but you can't possibly not believe that the only thing this woman "suffers" from is greed. If she thought she had cancer, did she go to a doctor to get diagnosed and treated??? And, if she did, what medical professional gave her a diagnosis of cancer???

The people who "take care of diseases" are researchers. Research costs money, especially when you have to consider how to test those diseases. You can't just wait for someone to come along who has it to do tests. It's difficult work. Plus, it is a job, which means you have to pay salaries.

And, that is the main problem. There is NO PROFIT in a cure. How many trillions have gone into researching of cancer and all the 'causes', yet cancer rates are getting worse every year. They have been studying cancer for a century now SO why are the cancer rates doubling? If cancer was cured there would be NO SALARIES, no PROFIT... No need for all that grant money, etc.

Do some "RESEARCH" into Dr. Byrzinski, or Max Gerson, and you will see how strongly the "system" shuts those down who actually FIND a cure.

#1.4 : I thought it was obvious, but since your comment shows it wasn't, by 'taking care of diseases', I meant 'treating diseases'; not even 'curing diseases' in case of cancer for that matter. You wanted to write something about research, and you did, but leave my comment alone while doing that - I said nothing about research, it didn't even cross my mind when while reading this article.

It was only $1700.00. She probably needed it for essentials. People gave the money to her. She should have been allowed to keep it. She should not have been lying about something that causes so many so much suffering though.

When I was in college I once lied to a professor that I was sick because we (his class) were doing a community service day where we would be picking up trash along the highway, and it was cold and pouring outside and I just didn't feel like leaving my nice warm bed. Although, I typically didn't do things like that, I remember distinctly being amazed that I had gotten away with it. Well, the next week I actually did get the flu. Since I didn't have any more free absences, and since I figured all I would have to do is sit through lecture and go home and go back to bed, I forced myself to go to class. Well, to my surprise, the teacher had postponed the community service until this particular day because of the bad weather. My point being of course - life has its ways about it and you could just find yourself in a self-fulfilling prophesy. Exploiting peoples kindness is bad enough, but I'll bet she wont be laughing if she or a loved one gets it for real in the future.

I see no difference in someone trying to defraud a charity and someone falsely accusing another of rape. They are both out to reach a goal by LYING, they cause hurt to the innocent AND they make harder for future victims to: a) be believed and b) receive assistance.

I'm sorry but I think the ONLY condition that woman has is GREED, she STOLE money and attention away from REAL cancer victims.

This is probably a case of Munchausen syndrome which is felt to be a mental illness. Sometimes these people take medications, etc. or give them to their children to cause medical findings that suggest disease. When it involves a child, it is called Munchausen syndrome by proxy. I hope she gets some help.

A more likely scenario would be a case of greed.

Which is the worse crime: Lying about an illness to get people to donate money -- or allowing someone to die simply because they cannot afford to pay the insurance premiums and/or the medical costs.

If you choose the latter, I sure hope you have enough money to cover ALL of your possible/potential medical bills. Yes, especially the costs associated with treatments for cancer.

Munchhausen Syndrome causes people to go to doctors to receive unecessary treatment and medication. This womans ailment was much simpler to detect - GREED! And a much less complicated cure - PUNISHMENT! Notice how quickly she recovered when her little scam was blown? I agree with a previous post who stated the damage she has caused legitmate charities to have to contend with. This person not only scammed kindhearted donors, but also hurt the ability of real charities to be effective in collecting donations.

A man would have been given jail time.

You know, if she had gotten away with far more, she might've been charged with racketeering.

How evil. And not a stitch of time in jail, either.

She deserved to lose her freedom if only so she could learn how it feels to rob someone of something precious--like the trust of those people whom she swindled.

Karma might eventually come around and bite her in the butt.

I think this woman should have gotten some jail time. What she did was commit fraud, even though they did not charge her with that, and to let her walk away with a $100 fine and probation was much too light of a sentence. If not jail time, then maybe she should have been sentenced to at least a few hundred hours of community service - someplace helping real cancer patients so she could see what people with cancer really go through. Letting her walk away with a $100 fine and probation does not send enough of a message about how wrong she was to do this.

Some jail time is a nice "cure" for alleged psychosemantic illness! She needed to be taught a lesson and get a slap on the wrist!

Did you not read that she is suffering from a severe mental illness? A suspended sentence, restitution, and therapy seems appropriate to me.

Too bad she lied for some money, but good to know she doesn't actually have cancer - no one deserves that kind of suffering and death

#2.4 : Lawyers claim their guilty clients have mental illness all the time, to get a reduced sentencing after they realize no lies they can cook up can prove the client innocent. Now they are never prosecuted for their lies, probably because it is their only way of making money, for sickness or for better. Strange system

Typical Republican answer from a supposedly moral people, "Throw her in Jail". Despite the fact the article stated she had mental issues. It's no wonder we are going to hell in a hand-basket, we have half of our country, screaming for Jesus, and in the same breath, deny his own words of helping less fortunate. It said she is getting counseling, which in my opinion is better than letting her rot in jail, on my taxpaying dime. I'd rather help people who are non-violent, than imprison them. What would YOUR Jesus do, JS in SD?

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that, "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'” Here is some sound advice to live by, Isaac Asimov

Only a 100 dollar fine? RIDICULOUS she should be made to work at a cancer hospital or somewhere with actual cancer patients..... see who she was taking money from and what a cruel thing it was that she did.

I found it amazing, there was a woman on the freeway offramp with a sign reading "Have cancer,doing chemo, please help" and people were getting out of their cars offering donations. The only thing they saw was the sign. I looked a little closer (my wife is a cancer survivor) and saw a dirty, tanned, overweight bald headed woman (with major razor stubble). I asked her how come her hairs was growing back so quickly and so thick if she was going thru treatments? She ran off. If people want to REALLY give for cancer, give it to Safeway and Vons during their annual donation drive. 100% goes towards research.

I am not affiliated with Safeway or Vons in any way except I shop there.

i'm appalled as a cancer survivor that someone would do something as pathetic as claim they have suffered through this disease. It is a nasty disease that I wouldn't wish on anyone, but I hope karma prevails here

All you have to know to understand our legal system is that there are more lawyers in the USA than in the rest of the world, including 56 out of a 100 senators and 162 out of 441 representatives. I direct your attention to her lawyer, whose defense for her is that "she had a psychosomatic illness that made her believe she had a cancer-like condition". She probably paid five times the restitution to the lawyer to be able to hide behind that drivel.

Q. What's brown and black and looks good on a lawyer?

A. A doberman.

Not the first time this has been done; not the last.

Denver, I'm trying to decide which is funnier: your joke or Allen's "psychosemanitic illness" in comment 2.3.

Imatthebeach,

It's gotta be Allen's comment. Everybody knows that jail exacerbates talking crazy instead of curing it.

SO, I wonder WHY in the world people GIVE their money to complete strangers without doing some research! I, too, am guilty of seeing the little jar on the counter at the store and throwing my loose change in it to "help" the person in need whose picture is slapped on it. But do I KNOW that the person in the pic is ACTUALLY sick or in need of the help for what THEY SAY??~NO~but I put the spare change in there in the hope that I am helping someone who is in need. Now, it is NO ONES fault but my own if it turns out that it is not what it appears~I guess I SHOULD have asked questions or simply "helped" reputable charities rather than just handing it out HOPING that people are honest these days! PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
I think it is terrible that this lady felt she had to lie to get money rather than just simply working for it. I dont feel that jail is a good punishment, though. Serving those who are TRULY in need might just do the trick! **BTW: this is just MY opinion, so no need to bash on my comment :) Have a good day!

Sarah. Love your idea. A previous post had the same. Community service toward actual cancer patients would be an eye opening experience, I am a lucky one. Doctors caught mine early enough to remove it. Chemo for me is to prevent a recurrence. But as I sit in my treatment chair, I see many people, young and old in such worse shape than I, bravely and stoicly taking their treatments. I am inspired by their courage. We talk and laugh, and share jokes. We refer to ourselves as chemo buddies. I am blessed to be around these folks. This lady should see these people. She would be ashamed to have committed such an act. Maybe judges should consider this type of service more often.

Sarah, I agree with you that jail isnt necessarily an option, but she needs to be forced to do some kind of community service. I would go along with Andy, that she should be forced to see people who really are suffering from cancer.

Remember Arnold Schwarznegger saying "It's not a tooooma!"?

I Agree. This would be like a bank robber getting caught, giving the money back and paying a $100 fine!!!!

After her 5 year probation she will be right back at it, with another scam .......

While this is horrible, its hard to pay restitution if your in jail. And $1700 isn't really Bernie Madoff money. I'd rather we keep after the bankers who stole $M/$B and destroyed the economy.

I agree also. This is no different than robbing a bank.

There is a threat of death unless compensation is made.

She gave back the money she had been given. She paid a fine. I think that considering the degree of damage that she did, and the damage that will be done to her reputation forever, I think the judgement was fair.

Guys, take a deep breath. Punishment has to fit the crime. Crimes may be the same but are not necessarily equal. That is the point of justice. We don't treat someone for stealing a candy bar in the same manner as someone who embezzles billions. Yeah, both are thefts but if we meted out the same punishment we wouldn't be the US, we would be Afghanistan.

Jail time!? Really, for $1,700 bucks? Casey Anthony killed her kid and got nothing.

what makes anyone think she gave all back and that she wont be doing it again next week she is syco remember

just a syco

I'm not sure how I feel about this woman. I am a two time cancer survivor, and I do believe she hurts those of us who really have a serious illness and even worse those that need to have these huge fund raising campaigns so they can survive their illness because of lack of insurance. That is the part that bothers me.

Because of this womans "supposed illness" she brings into question everyone's real illness and now more people become "suspect" to fake illness just for money. I don't believe for a second, that she THOUGHT she had cancer. Trust me, when a Dr. tells you, you have cancer, it changes EVERYTHING. She never had this gut wrenching statement by her Doctors, so her integrity is even brought more into question. Shame on her for bringing down the true survivors who have lived through hell and survived to tell about it.

Wakehead - Also, fine the American public who took on more debt than they could handle, and left it in the laps if irresponsible bankers.

Slinger, I'm with you. I cannot understand how anyone would pretend to have cancer, knowing how dibilitating an illness it is, plus being told you have cancer is devastating and the last thing anyone wants to hear. I am a survivor too and I would not wish this on my worst enemy.Cancer is not a joke.

@Joeybagofdonuts: best comment goes to you and Wakehead!! Nobody is screaming foul when we are all being screwed in this country! I can't tell you how ROBBED I FEEL when I see someone get out of their Caddy, gather their kids up, talk on their "smartphones", then head into the grocery store and purchase a TON OF CRAP on FOOD STAMPS while I am standing there HAVING to budget just to have ham and bologna sandwiches for the week! Do I qualify for the programs that I HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR FOR YEARS!?! NOPE!! I have to work, budget, and even trade and barder sometimes just to make ends meet just to see that an average of $60 a WEEK goes to fund these programs. I have NO SAY in it at all!! People CHOSE to give this woman their money! As dispicable as it is to lie about something so serious, OUR OWN GOVERNMENT STEALS more than $1700 EVERY MIN Im sure!!

@Slinger, Im with you. Having been through Hodgkins Lymphoma and dealing with 5 months of chemo, this womans actions sicken me, though Im not sure if sending her to jail is the best option. She should be forced to spend time with people who are dealing with cancer and having to go through chemotherapy, because that was actually the hardest part for me to deal with and to have to see people so totally wiped out by the effects of the chemo, then maybe it would hit home that what she did was a slap in the face of every legitimate cancer patient.

ozymandias, everything you wrote was exactly what I was thinking!! I am a cancer survivor also.

I'm with both of you. Throat cancer myself, 1 year after treatment. As a cancer suvivor, I would find it easy to throw her under the bus, but as you said, I'm sure it was more about the attention than the money.

What very big, beautiful hearts you three have. I, for one, am humbled by your exemplary kindness and strong will(s) to live through what I can only imagine is pure Hell. Thanks, I needed all of you today! Prayers for your continued well being and recovery.

As a volunteer at a local cancer research and treatment facility aimed at end-stage or close to cancers of many types and a repeat volunteer with a local cancer benefit, and a repeat sponsor/advocate for children's hospitals I am really having a hard time accepting any excuse for this “person”. My spouse was misdiagnosed with CML and it almost destroyed him...I also know others, including family members who lost their lives to this unsympathetic killer...I appreciate her family is “happy” with her verdict, just as was my husband and I were when he was found 2 years later that the CML was a misdiagnosis (only after oral chemotherapy caused irreparable damage to his esophagus and stomach) we too were ecstatic!!! I am sure anyone with cancer who has beat the odds is also feeling relief and a sense of what my husband and I felt…although I can only predict that is the outcome. I wholeheartedly appreciate anyone who can see a light at the end of this woman’s tunnel, so to speak, but also feel chagrin for the victims who could have used these funds and feel any feeling towards this woman is faced with ambiguity and indignity for future fund raisers with the proper mind set – no indignation to her “condition.” My thoughts and prayers go out to any and all suffering the plight of cancer!

After having breast cancer 6 years ago and it spread to bone cancer last year I just Don't know if I can be as nice. For all of us that have been through this and the medical bills I have,and the drugs I need the rest of my life, never would I dream of doing this to tug at the heart strings of others. She will try it again somewhere down the road and if she does I hope her punishment will be worse. I think she should have been made to volunteer at a cancer center.

Race had nothing to do with this crime but since you brought it up let me give you a little education as it seems you can use some. You are right that had this been a male he would have been fined 50 times this amount but have he been a white man he would have received jail time. The black guy would have been fined but not jailed and this is fact in Indiana and Kentucky.

I would have to agree. If a man did this, they would have incarcerated him for no less then 12 months and given the maximum fine they could.

Then again, they also would not have made excuses for the man. You would have seen nothing about how the man might have had a mental condition that caused him to fake cancer. It is likely that the only fact stated in the same kind of story about a man would be " He got caught defrauding the public and was fined and jailed'.

So, hey society... Where is this equality you speak of? Equality for all means Equal responsibility, Equal earning and EQUAL PUNISHMENT.

This woman's sentence was a total joke.

You both need to get those chips off your shoulders. You have no idea what would have happened under different circumstances.

@AtticusRules

In this case the sentence was ridiculous and should have included jail time for anyone who would do this.

If you think a man will be treated the same as a woman in financial crime, think again...

She should run for office

To those of you who believe that a black man would get the same sentence as this woman: wake up.

Yeah, your right. That should have been 5 years in jail...

Restitution was made. It's in the article. All 1700 dollars. Didn't say where the money went though.

You must be healty! You just do not get it! As for they psychiatric - was that feigned too? One wonders!