If someone dies during surgery, should the family still have to pay everything?

Question

If someone dies during surgery, and the surgery isn't even completed, should the doctor still charge the deceased loved ones the entire cost of the procedure? Or due to ethics, should they write off at the very least, the co-payment (the portion the insurance doesn't cover)

Furthermore, would the insurance even pay for a surgery if someone passes away during it? I would think they wouldn't. Well, then the life insurance policy (if they have one) would pay for it, I guess.

Secondly, what DO most doctors do? What SHOULD they do vs. What DO they do? Do they do what's ethical and write off the costs?

Answer 1

Fortunately, death during surgery is very rare.

In those cases where it does occur, it is usually not the result of a "botched" operation (think, gunshot wound, emergency bypass surgery, etc.) Those cases require HUGE amounts of resources and are very expensive. Are you suggesting that when it matters the most, doctors should work for free? Those cases are physically and emotionally demanding on the people who care for the patients.

Insurances do cover the costs associated with surgery, and it is not related to the outcome.

Risk management concerns come up if a patient dies because of a medical error. It is not in the errant doctor's best interest to bill for a procedure that he/she screwed up, and I doubt many would.

If doctors were paid based on outcome, how would the difficult cases ever get done? Who would take the risk? It's bad enough that lawyers are ready to sue at the drop of a hat, even if the care delivered was perfect.

Sometimes bad things happen. There are NO guarantees in medicine.

What would you say if the reverse was suggested? If the patients don't follow the doctor's instructions and something goes wrong, they pay double. (hello, smokers!) Just a thought.

Answer 2

It's not always obvious whether the patient died due to natural causes that would have progressed sans operation or whether it's the surgeons' fault. Sometimes it's a combination. Also, if a patient dies at the end of the surgery in the recovery room, then it should be the same person covering payment as if a person lasts a year past surgery-the patient or careprovider for the patient. Insurance should pay for the surgery regardless of whether the patient lived (insurance coverage is figured out before procedures). It sucks, but the family/careproviders of the deceased still pay for the procedure. The co-payment shouldnt be covered by the doctor. Doctors have no obligation to pay anything/write off anything for expenses. Their job is to try to improve the life of others, but it's not their job to figure out payment options. Insurance helps with that, but when it doesnt it's up to the fam.

Answer 3

Some operations are known to be high risk and the chances of the patient dying during or after surgery are discussed with the patient and their relatives while taking informed consent. Almost all operations have a mortality which may may vary from less than that of crossing a road to 50% or more.
The hospital spends money on preparing for surgery, using OR time, paying the personnel who work in the OR, disposables and equipment used during the operation. The surgeon contributes his times and undergoes a great deal of stress trying to salvage the patients life. They are entitled to their payment.
Interestingly some hospitals in India have an insurance policy which pays the patient's expenses if the patient dies. This would perhaps be the best solution.

Answer 4

As from a family of doctors, yes, they should pay the hospital bill and at th same time pay the proffesional fee. This matter is already agreed upon during the informed consent stage. Doctors are not gods, there are instances that patients will not survive due to complications of the surgery. It is really difficult to manage a surgical patient especially if the case is hard. The human body is just so complicated...Ethically they should charge minimal as for the proffesional fee but for the hospital fee, the doctor don't have any control for that since th hospital is the one charging and mind you, hospitals are built basically for business except for a few.

Answer 5

the charge to the family or insurance co is the cost of the services rendered, eg. supplies used, medicine used, personnel's time used, etc. these charges do not change if the outcome is not the expected or desired one...
there are risks involved in any procedure, even a "simple" surgery.....when someone dies, that does not necessarily mean that a mistake was made, it is that despite everyone's best efforts the patient did not survive...

Answer 6

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RE :If someone dies during surgery, should the family still have to pay everything?
If someone dies during surgery, and the surgery isn't even completed, should the doctor still charge the deceased loved ones the entire cost of the procedure? Or due to ethics, should they write off at the very least, the co-payment (the portion the insurance doesn't cover)

Furthermore, would the insurance even pay for a surgery if someone passes away during it? I would think they wouldn't. Well, then the life insurance policy (if they have one) would pay for it, I guess.

Secondly, what DO most doctors do? What SHOULD they do vs. What DO they do? Do they do what's ethical and write off the costs?
1 following 8 answers

Answer 7

My mother's mom (grandma) died from a simple surgery. I don't know about now, because this was before I was born...but back than... my mom said that my grandfather paid for the surgery, and than he turned around and sued the hospital and won.

Answer 8

If your doctor sends you a bill for the botched surgery, you should contact your local newspaper to make sure that everyone knows about that creep.

Answer 9

They should charge them nothing
they should pay for burial and funeral