Fun Fact: most creditors dont look at medical bills going into collections the same way they do revolving credit and usually end up disregarding them. I know this because it's happened to me MULTIPLE times over the years.
you are correct. hippocratic oath.Don't they only have to treat you if it's life or death? And only have to treat the life or death problem? Such as they don't have to give you an expensive MRI, just latch you up and get you out the door?
Let's say you have a hernia and need surgery to fix it..would they still
Treat you knowing it won't kill you, just make your life very uncomfortable?
Or if you have diabetes and need meds to manage it, they don't have to give you meds... They'll just take care of you if you come in dying, patch you up and then out the door you go with no meds still?
My understanding is anything life or death they'll take care of - anything "quality of life", such as a broken arm... They can refuse you if they don't think they'll get paid for it.
Not sure if that's still accurate, I know it was 20 years ago, all the TV shows I watch still portray it that way.... But I don't take TV shows as factjust as Canada's healthcare is overblown in one direction, I'm sure America healthcare portrayal is just as skewed in the other direction.
[Edit] I was curious so I looked it up... Apparently a broken arm is considered an emergency so they have to examine you, and potentially put a cast on you.... But if it's broken in multiple areas / requires surgery, a cast is deemed sufficient.
A hernia can be considered an emergency if it's causing your organs to fail / you're at risk of dying... But is considered an elective surgery if you're not at risk of dying and are just in a lot of pain, so they can refuse to repair your hernia unless it's life threatening.
Because he is. He's not denying his socialist views. There's not much of a difference between socialism and communism. Let's just see what happens. He told everyone he didn't want their money. Then today, he's asking for donations.
Actually you can be denied. EMTALA only counts when it's an EMERGENCY (life threatening) - and at Medicare-participating hospitals.
Once again, yes, if you are so inclined to hit up an ER, you are treated. If you are a reasonable person with time constraints, 8 hours at the ER to be seen for the flu is not practical. Further, they will not dispense medication, but give you a prescription, which will definitely require pay for play.
Same, but from the Ark.
always a catch
I will say, my uncle sat in the er for 2 hours and was not treated. He had no insurance, no money. He also had late stage lung cancer that he never got checked for until the tumors were growing through his chest. It was a horrible situation. My mom was so mad that he dind't get treated, but at the point he went to the er, there was literally nothing left to do for h im. They did finally get him into a medicaid funded cancer treatment but he went twice and passed away.
Yes you are. An EMERGENCY room that accepts Medicare can't deny you if you are having an EMERGENCY, but anything else, yes you are denied.
COMMUNIST!
That's not what's supposed to happen. But I guess it does. Theres also the hippocratic oath. But I guess that's gone by the wayside too.
The do no harm bit? It's not like the 3 laws of robotics, '...may not harm, or allow through inaction to be harmed...', it's more along the lines of 'I won't poison this guy with my advanced knowledge' kinda situation.
actually no. it's deeper than that. you should google it.
Oh I did, and the actual content of 'I will always help the sick and downtrodden' is missing. Kinda like the 'protect and serve' on the police badges, it's a slogan, not a responsibility.