Reading between the lines, it seems to have become SOP at this hospital. Culturally widespread.
Although, given the circumstances, i would like to see it also become a criminal matter, if that’s legally possible.
They can’t really deny the procedures - they billed him for them. If there’s a different side to things, it likely lies in that; wouldn’t they bill the police for such exams normally? If they tried and the police refused to pay…
The hospital could claim he consented to the procedures. That would be about it. And if he signed consent, they might get away with it because then the attorney would need to prove he signed the consent because he was under duress. But that might be successfully argued, they have the first ER doc.
Suppose the police enter your home with a warrant, rip the place apart looking for your stash (probable cause, and all that, the guy next door saw something questionable and called it in), find nothing, and leave you with a terrible mess to straighten up? Kind of a similar thing – do you have recourse?
You’re a little late, Marley23 already did it much better in post #26.
I suppose it’s possible that the judge/police told him he had to consent and he was compliant at the hospital. I would probably not scream and struggle in that case in a poor attempt to preserve a little dignity. But I would call a lawyer the second I could.
The most surreal part of this whole story is the victim being charged for the procedures. Reminds me of a scene in Brazil, where (iirc) a widow gets charged for her husband’s torture. I probably got that wrong- it’s high time I rewatched.
Either way I still bet you see a flying buttress.
In China if someone is executed, the family gets a bill for the bullet.
The government has the authority to force you to buy something and call it a tax, so I don’t understand why anyone is surprised over the $6000 hospital bill. It’s completely within government’s authority to force you to buy a colonoscopy.
. . . or the somethings . . .
Yes, but, actually, the plot point is that she got a refund check because he turned out to be the wrong man, and died under the torture. (“It’s not my fault Buttle’s heart condition didn’t appear in Tuttle’s file!”)
Nominations for Most Pathetic Hijack Attempt Award for the SDMB 2013 are now closed.
Of course they include Marley’s on this very thread.
Agreed. Perhaps that’s why they billed him personally.
Not that that lets them off the hook. Even if they get off legally, they might still be in trouble with medical licensing bodies. Consent should be informed consent, and unnecessary procedures are mandated against.
The complaint says that consent was not given, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he didn’t sign a form under duress or without being properly told what he was signing.
Confess! Before you ruin your credit rating!
Is it noteworthy that the victim of this crime (and it is my layman’s belief that it was, in fact, a crime) waited 10 months before his attorney released the information to the press? Did it take that long for the guy to find an attorney, or did the attorney attempt to settle out of court or was it something else?
Oh, not this again! Are you being serious? Do you really believe this? (If the family can’t afford to pay does the man go free?)
Ok, give me a minute to compose myself…
OK,
Cite?
People will believe anything. I think I am going to start an urban legend in Europe: In America if you get sick and can’t afford to pay for health care you can go broke and lose your house. Really. It’s true.
There was also a scene in the original that was cut for the American release. After Sam is arrested he has a few quick meetings; one is a financial officer discussing payment plans that Sam can use for his own interrogation.