he had an out standing balance of $35.00 and no money to pay so they told him they would not see him unless he paid. 3 hours later he was brought back there and the $35.00 was paid. when he seen the doctors they had to rush my son to the hospital because he had a fully collasped lung. the er doctor said that if he would have had to wait any longer to receive care he could of had a heart attack and possibly died. was this legal for the doctors office to refuse him care the first time he went there?
2006-09-16 04:48:06 · 13 answers · asked by amber 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
I don't know, but it shouldn't be. Our health care system in the US is a joke, and needs to be changed. No one with an emergency should be refused.
2006-09-16 04:50:10 · answer #1 · answered by pegasus_1174 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To my knowledge, any emergency or urgent care clinic is required by law to treat you regardless of your financial situation, but I don't believe that private practice offices are under the same legal constraint. Personally, if I had a doctor that refused treatment on such an small amount of outstanding balance and it jeopardized my health or the health of a loved one, I'd be getting a new doctor and filing complaints with any agency that monitors and rates the medical professionals.
2006-09-16 12:02:10 · answer #2 · answered by Pundit Bandit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to see an attorney. That doctor is guilty of medical malpractice. They are not allowed to deny you medical care. Your son could have died. And I would see a different physician from now on. You also need to report this doctor to your state's medical licensing board and they will investigate him.
Sometimes the idiots in the office who think they're in charge just because they answer the phones are at the front of these kinds of problems, but they are putting the doctors medical license on the line by denying his patients access to his services. This is still against the tort laws and needs to be addressed.
2006-09-16 12:10:51 · answer #3 · answered by Lola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of doctors refuse the right to see someone if they have an outstanding balance BUT a hospital emergency room IS NOT ALLOWED to refuse treatment no matter how much money he owes take this up with sternness with your family dr and tell him if this happens again you will send your son to the emergency room and the dr will be paying the bill good luck to you in the future
2006-09-16 11:52:31 · answer #4 · answered by oceanlady580 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doctors offices are private businesses and they can deny services to any one they choose for any reason if they wish and this is legal. A hospital cannot deny services in case of an emergency but private hospitals do their best to dump patients with no insurance or on medicaid to public hospitals.
I tried to take my mom to a Cancer Treatment Center Hospital located in my home town when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer but they would not take her because she did not have enough money.
2006-09-16 11:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by petlover 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes, doctors are not required to treat people if they can not afford to pay.
There are hosptials in most places with ER's that are required to treat everyone regardless of thier ability to pay
So he could have merley went to a local state hospital and went to their ER.
In the US everyone can get medical care but are not promised private care from every doctor. Doctor offices are business and are there to make money, Most require payment at the time of service unless insurnace arrangements have been made.
2006-09-16 11:58:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Doctors nor hospitals can refuse to see a patient if its an emergency money or not if they accept funding from Medicade and Medicare
2006-09-16 12:44:24 · answer #7 · answered by Big-Daddy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes the office the hospitals cant deny care so find a better md and maybe when in distress dont go to a MD go straight to the hospital and lawyers will see you for an intake for free to determine if you have a case
2006-09-16 11:51:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find you a lawyer!! They are not suppose to turn someone away because they can not pay. If you have seen their treatment statement it should state this there. It is illegal to deny someone based on their ability to pay.
2006-09-16 11:54:26 · answer #9 · answered by Spann M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not completley. you can sue the doctors for denying your son's health treatment. you'd lose in court because you need life insurace and medicade plus other stuff. life sucks.
2006-09-16 11:52:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋