A 91-year-old woman has had felony theft charges dropped after a US judge declared she was failed by the country’s healthcare system, not guilty of a crime. The elderly woman, identified as Helen, was arrested after attempting to take medication she could no longer afford for her critically ill husband.
Helen and her 88-year-old spouse, George, have been married for 65 years and depend on a fixed monthly income. His survival relies on daily medication for severe heart failure. But their supplemental insurance recently lapsed after they struggled to keep up with premium payments, leaving the pair unable to cover unexpected medical costs.
When Helen visited the pharmacy, she was told George’s usual US$50 prescription would now cost US$940. Unable to afford it, she went home empty-handed and spent three days watching her husband fight for breath.
Desperate, she returned to the pharmacy and slipped the medicine into her purse while the pharmacist turned away. She was stopped before she reached the door, detained by police and charged with felony shoplifting. During booking, her blood pressure spiked and she was rushed to a hospital emergency ward.
The following morning, still wearing a thin hospital gown and restrained in chains, Helen was brought before a judge who was visibly stunned by her appearance and the circumstances behind her arrest. She quietly told the court she had no other option: “He’s all I have.”
Ordering the restraints removed, the judge dismissed the charges immediately, describing her ordeal as “a failure of our system,” not criminal behaviour. He directed that emergency assistance be provided to both Helen and her husband to ensure George receives the treatment he needs.
The case has reignited debate over rising medical costs and the vulnerability of elderly couples living on limited incomes, with many calling for urgent reforms to prevent similar tragedies.
