when your employer calls an ambulance even though YOU are alert and refuse, who should pay the bill?

Question

A co-worker felt ill, but did NOT want medical assistance. The employer called an ambulance anyway, then insisted the employee go to the hospital. The bills have been sent to the employee. He was also told that because there was no injury, he was responsible.

Answer 1

The employer should. Have them contact labor and industries about the laws. There are definetly laws to protect employees who get hurt on the job.

Answer 2

I am an EMT and have seen this situation before. If the employee felt ill due to a possible exposure to something at his/her work place, the employer is duty bound to call an ambulance, and advise others in the work place to been seen by a physician if they too exhibit symptoms. If that was the case, the company should be paying the bill. If the employee felt ill prior to arriving at work, then by accepting the ambulance transportation,and not signing a transport refusal form, then the employee is responsible for payment.

Answer 3

Unless said employee was injured while at work the expences are their problem to deal with.

If someone calls an ambulance, and the person who is sick refuses care and transport to the hospital, which is their right regardless of what the employer says, then they will not be billed (by most ambulance services). No bill will even be created.

If the paramedics or EMTs are concerned about the patient;s condition enough to reccomend they be transported, and if a medical command physician agrees, then the insurance should cover it regardless of whether there was an actual problem.

Don't quote me on this, but it sound illegal to force someone to go to the hospital by threatening to fire them and then not pick up the tab.

Answer 4

The company I work for has a policy that if an ambulance or EMT is called to you and they think you need to go to the hospital you have no choice but to go. Refusal is terms for termination. There had to have been a reason that the employer thought it was bad enough to warrant a call to an ambulance. The employee is responsible for the bill unfortunately in this case.

Answer 5

It is the employee's responsibility to pay for his own medical bills when he is sick. The employer and the ambulance would not have taken the employee to the hospital if he was well. If the employee did not want to go to the hospital, he should have/could have called his doctor's office, or had someone drive him to the hospital. I don't think the employee should be angry with the employer for trying to help.

Answer 6

If an employee experiences a personal medical emergency at work, the employer is responsible for the health and safety of all employees and they must call 911. When the emergency personnel arrive, the employee decides if he/she does not want treatment, the employer should be held harmless for that decision and send the employee home in a cab. If this is a personal illnesses, why should the employer be responsible? The ambulance never takes anyone against their will. He ill patient must sign an agreement before they put him in the ambulance.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, the employee is responsible if he or she took the ambulence to the hospital. However, if the employee contacts his or her insurance company, they may try to get the employee's company to pay. Worth a shot.

Or maybe explain the situation to the boss and see if he or she will be reasonable about it.

Answer 8

My daughter had an panic attack at work. She was unable to speak or walk. Her boss refused to call an ambulance. Thank god I knew when she called by past attacks hearing her breath hard I called and met her at her work. Is their a law that the employer has to call when an employee ask them too. She tried herself but 911 couldn t even understand her. The boss refused twice to call.

Answer 9

That is right. If it is not an on the job injury then you are liable. Falling ill on the job is not the fault of the employer.

I have gotten sick on the job before and was taken to the hospital and I was responsible for what insurance did not cover.

Answer 10

The co-worker should have refused the transport...once he rode ..its his bill..unless it was w/c.....and the felt ill part pretty much ruled that out. His employer only insisted...that not make!...he as so got a hospital bill too....again..he was the one treated.