If there is an emergency,the wonderful people that staff the hospitals and ER's are there to help,and I want to thank every single one of you first.BUT...here's my problem.I was in an ER here in Las Vegas and saw a Mexican man who was suffering horribly and dripping blood by his seat while waiting more than four hours before he got helped.He had been sitting quietly trying to keep his nearly detached thumb onto his hand before the actual shock wore off and he felt it and started moaning in obvious agony.I doubt with the time that passed if he was able to get his thumb re-attached.My question is this: when I was there and said I had no insurance,I had a bad reaction from the person taking my info.I had cash,and paid (dearly) before I left.Is it possible that this man got overlooked because of the risk of non-payment due to lack of insurance? It's illegal,but I'm sure it could happen.
2007-02-26 18:13:32 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
In some states a hospital is not obligated to treat anyone who does not have the means to pay his bill. It is unethical, but legal. This person should have either been treated or referred to a county or welfare clinic or hospital. It is terrible for someone to lose a digit or a limb due the the prejudice of a hospital. My son lost his finger because the people at the county hospital waited too long to treat it. I'll certainly never take another loved one to that emergency room again.
2007-02-26 18:24:14 · answer #1 · answered by sissyd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the guy didn't tell them how bad the problem was. The emergency room here sees patients in the order of how life-threatening or severe their injuries are. You might be in terrible pain from a broken foot (as an example) but the person who comes in an hour later having an asthma attack will be seen before you.
I haven't been to an ER as a patient in years. I have taken my children, though, and the ER here is no longer allowed to ask any details about payment or insurance before the doctor has seen the patient. For us, it changed about three years ago. I would have thought it changed everywhere in the country at the same time, but maybe it was a statewide change here.
2007-02-27 02:24:48 · answer #2 · answered by Judi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's awful! It sounds to me like a clear case of discrimination for insurance. If I'd witnessed that, I would complain to the hospital administration.
2007-02-27 02:25:01 · answer #3 · answered by CandyCane 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure it could, and does, happen. Medicine is no longer about the Hippocritical oath, it's big business. Maybe they should change it to the hypocritical oath?
2007-02-27 02:25:04 · answer #4 · answered by zbelle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋