Overseas Patient Admitted to Public Hospital Due to Hip Fracture with No Insurance

missyy on 14/10/2018 - 10:25

Hi All,

I need advice for my situation, i try to summarize with this short long story below, any suggestion or information is appreciated
My dad (70 yrs old) come for visiting (visitor visa) and don't have travel insurance (we learnt our lesson now) He had a fall in shopping centre and end up with hip fracture
We go to emergency at public hospital (on saturday) after xray they found out my dad have hip fracture which need operation, at first we reluctant to do surgeries due to cost but when we meet the orthopedic surgeon, he say not to worry about cost as hospital can cover it on compasionate ground, we agreed on the surgery on assumption that all cost will be covered by the hospital and
The site manager (we meet later on) say they have obligation and duty of care for my dad as he come to their emergency department, so they can't discharge my dad without the surgery, she said not to worry about the cost and everything will work out and the finance will contact us on monday
On Monday we meet "finance" which turn out is from Ausheath (i think its third party used to deal finance with overseas patient) and they have zero information to us, only insisted we make some down payment for room cost
We stay in hospital for 5 days without hospital ever explain or being transparant about hospital cost to us and everytime we asked (doctor or nurse) they said finance will contact us (which never happen) even the day i discharge, hospital can't give us any information about cost
A week later they sent us bill on room cost and few xray test and they say they still need another 6-8 weeks to figure out total cost to us (maybe regarding the surgery)
Anybody have similar situation or worked on hospital can provide us any information

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 10:33
    +65

    You took the risk and now that is the reality. You would have signed some paperwork.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 14/10/2018 - 15:59
      -1

      Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200.

    • XanderYuan on 17/10/2018 - 08:32
      +8

      There seems to be an abuse of power which includes duress, undue influence, unconscionable dealing. Which means the contract maybe rescinded.
      I have no idea why you got so many upvotes… OP if you want legal advice seek a lawyer…

      • HighAndDry on 24/10/2018 - 09:39

        How does this kind of comment get upvotes? Are there just that many ignorant people who have no idea how these things work? Absolutely nothing you mentioned will apply.

        • XanderYuan on 24/10/2018 - 12:41

          Let’s say undue influence
          There is firstly a presumed relationship of influence and it is well established it includes doctor and patient
          It is then a presumption that the contract is vitiated unless the doctor can show otherwise
          It can be rebutted with showing free and informed consent
          OP has not received independent advice, and might not have adequate time to reflect on the decision
          Therefore, there is a chance for undue influence
          What reasons do you think there isn’t? And give me a reason why OP should not seek legal advice

  • Glenny on 14/10/2018 - 10:34
    +14

    Firstly, sorry to hear about your dad and I hope the operation went well and his health is improving now. I guess whatever the cost is, it's still worth it for your dad to be recovered, right?
    I would recommend that you ask to speak to the social worker at the hospital. Explain how you agreed to proceed with the treatment based on what you understood from your meeting with the orthapedic surgeon.
    Also, does the shopping centre have any responsibility for this? Was there a 'trip hazard' at the shopping centre which contributed to your father's fall? Perhaps they should be covering some of the costs?
    Good luck with this.
    I hope other members are kind with their comments :)

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 10:39
      +7

      They were well looked after by the hospital staff and only when costs came into it because they didn't have insurance they are questioning the hospitals recommendations. If one had insurance there would be no question about whether or not an operation should be done as advised from a specialist.
      Might be payment options.

    • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 13:24

      my dad still in recovery due to age factor may took longer to recover, i do remember one of the doctor mention about they give my case to social worker (not sure how it works about this)
      we also been contacted by the shopping centre and email us to submit invoice related to medical expenses

      • srhardy on 15/10/2018 - 10:53
        +5

        Sounds like the shopping centre thats insured will cover this if your lucky

        • Plug on 17/10/2018 - 22:10
          +2

          Why would the shopping centre be liable?

      • alikazi on 18/10/2018 - 03:52
        +1

        I don't understand how your father got a visitor visa without proof of insurance and proof that you can cover his costs. I would assume you need to provide proof of both to qualify for the visa.

        • Bargain80 on 18/10/2018 - 14:53

          Tourist visa doesn't proof of travel/medical insurance. However, the immigration needs a proof that the person can afford to come here or a citizen/permanent residence here ti vouch for that person.

          • alikazi on 18/10/2018 - 17:45

            @Bargain80: That's bad isn't it. Visitors should definitely require health insurance. What happens if a person like in this situation incurs a large bill in Australia and simply leaves the country. Is the hospital going to chase the guy in their country?

            • Bargain80 on 19/10/2018 - 10:57
              +1

              @alikazi: I guess the occurrence of this happening is low enough that the immigration office doesn't see any need to enforce the travel/medical insurance.

            • Baysew on 19/10/2018 - 14:27

              @alikazi: And that most people have the common sense to have appropriate insurance for the country they visit.

              • alikazi on 20/10/2018 - 03:08

                @Baysew: @Baysew I don't think "most" people have that sense. At best, a handful of people buy insurance for the country they visit, and some other are insured with, say, complimentary insurance by the credit card they used to book the trip or some other similar way - in other words they are insured automatically.

  • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 10:35
    +2

    PPl forget that for example Ambualance service is not free. If you don't have a membership or cover under insurance if you have to be taken to hospital even if someone else calls the ambulance like in a car accident. The patient will get the bill if no ambulance cover. That alone could be $1 to 2k

    • Richardc on 14/10/2018 - 12:31
      +3

      I think for the car accident should be different story, as it should be cover by CTP.

      • Randxyz123 on 14/10/2018 - 13:54
        -1

        Depending on the state, it is not normally covered by TAC/CTP

        • Diji1 on 14/10/2018 - 14:59
          +10

          Wow, what a disgrace. Forced insurance that doesn't insure against costs resulting as a result of an accident.

        • Name on 14/10/2018 - 21:27
          +6

          QLD covers ambulance. Doesn't need to be a car accident. Can be for any emergency situation and they'll pay for it.

          • SlickMick on 15/10/2018 - 10:45
            -7

            @Name: You make it sound like it's a good thing. What actually happened is they forced every Queenslander to subscribe.

            • A Banana4scale on 15/10/2018 - 13:39
              +5

              @SlickMick: It is a good thing. Ambulance drivers/staff need to get paid too.

              They are on call 24/7,

              • SlickMick on 15/10/2018 - 21:57
                -4

                @A Banana4scale: no it wasn't a good thing being forced to subscribe whether you want to or not. We obviously got rid of the draconians that forced it upon our electricity bills, because it's gone.

                The ambos must be volunteers now 'eh? They must be exhausted being on call 24/7. ???? lol
                Actually the state government pays for it, and there is sufficient demand for paramedics that they work reasonable shifts and get days off and everything!

                The other states seem to manage with subscriptions and fees for non-subscribers - seemed like a reasonable system to me.

                Now we waste more money to run ads saying "please only use for emergencies" because "free" services get abused.

                • [Deactivated] on 18/10/2018 - 13:31

                  @SlickMick: Previously only old people who used them like taxis had subscriptions. It’s much better being a public service since people aren’t trying to ‘get value’ out of their subscription. Overall the cost to the taxpayer is less since we were heavily subsidizing it before anyway.

            • Name on 15/10/2018 - 21:01

              @SlickMick: I'm not sure how they do that? I haven't seen a bill for ambulance cover?

              • SlickMick on 15/10/2018 - 21:40

                @Name: lol I'm still complaining about something that ended in 2011 :)

                Between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2011, the Community Ambulance Cover levy was charged on electricity bills in Queensland to help fund the Queensland Ambulance Service. The full cost of the ambulance service is now funded through the state government budget.

        • Soluble on 15/10/2018 - 08:27
          +1

          Motorbike accident here in Vic and the ambulance was covered. At that time I didn't have ambulance cover and was stressing about it, when the information came through from TAC it said that the ambulance had to go through them and not ambulance cover anyway.

      • airzone on 15/10/2018 - 13:33
        +1

        In NSW it is. Been there, done that.

    • knk on 15/10/2018 - 11:42

      It's worth noting that if you have PHI an ambulance victoria membership is usually deductible to the point where it's like $20 a year.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/10/2018 - 10:35
    +4

    Sorry to hear of your misfortune but the real damage is yet to come.

    In terms of options or the lack thereof, that's on you.

  • Costanza on 14/10/2018 - 10:45
    +11

    Only some countries reciprocal but :-
    https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medica…

    • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 13:27

      we're not fortunate enough to be in listed contries but thank you for mention it

      • nikey2k27 on 15/10/2018 - 00:10

        did you buy his airline ticket with a credit card that has traveled insurance on it?

        • missyy on 15/10/2018 - 05:50

          unfortunately no

    • Scrooge McDuck on 14/10/2018 - 15:52
      +2

      I pay what I say.

      • nith265 on 17/10/2018 - 11:47

        I'm paying half!

  • datafellows on 14/10/2018 - 10:46
    +5

    My friend came to OZ without insurance, broke his leg above ankle. Ambo, 3 days at the public hospital and surgery came to about $15,000.

    Hospital required me to sign a paper at entry that I vouch for the friend and all the invoices was posted to me.

    I don't know what would have happened if I wouldn't sign and would have just walked away, but knowing he would pay me back I had no issues vouch for him.

    It took about 3 months to get all the invoices. Hospital room was about $2000 per day.

    Hope things work out for you.

    • josetann on 14/10/2018 - 10:53
      +1

      I think this is important. Did you (OP) sign anything? Because if your dad is the one who signed, then your dad is the one responsible. Do you or your dad care if your dad's Australian credit rating is trashed?

      • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 14:05
        +1

        I do sign form which given to you before go to emergencies (as my dad is in pain at that moment)

        • josetann on 14/10/2018 - 16:16
          +2

          If I were you:

          1. Dad would have been the one to sign. They'll do what they can to get you to, but they can provide treatment without you signing for financial liability.

          2. Ask them for copies of everything. Make sure you actually signed something saying you accepted financial liability. If you didn't (I'm guessing your memory of what you signed may be hazy, mine would be in that situation), then the buck stops there. If you did…I dunno, sorry.

          • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 16:21

            @josetann: i'll keep in mind, appreciate your suggestion

      • SlickMick on 15/10/2018 - 10:57
        +2

        yeah I was going to suggest this. Not that I think it's good to take treatment then flee the country, but it really shouldn't be on you (if you hadn't signed anything).

        I don't know whether you would have a case that you were forced to sign papers in a distressed state, but to be honest I wouldn't try to fight this but rather call on their compassion to be reasonable in their cost and/ or repayment plan.

        You did get the service you needed and should be willing to pay for it.
        I expected you to be slammed here "if you can't afford insurance you can't afford to travel", so I'm glad most people are feeling for you.

        Don't let it get you down. Stuff happens in life. I chose not to have health insurance and had to have a $10,000 operation. I still think I'll win over a lifetime and stand by my decision.

        You chose not to get travel insurance for your dad, so stand by that decision. You can see now it was a terrible decision, but at least you've learned a valuable life lesson. Money isn't everything.

    • try2bhelpful on 14/10/2018 - 10:55
      +13

      Was this a public hospital or a private hospital?

      Not sure I would've co-signed - I think the hospital would've treated your friend, anyway.

      Travel insurance is a definite must have. If you can't afford the insurance you can't afford to travel.

      • datafellows on 14/10/2018 - 11:03
        +2

        Public hospital admitted as private patient.

        Yes, they would have treated him anyway, but he has money, it was just out of stupidity he did not have travel insurance.

        Now he has expensive metal screwed in his foot so that's something :)

        • try2bhelpful on 14/10/2018 - 12:47
          +1

          A reminder to get insurance next time.

          When we travel we always have unlimited medical cover - everything else we can sort out ourselves but medical costs can get out of control very quickly.

          • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 20:27

            @try2bhelpful: yes, we do learn our lesson hard way on travel insurance

        • [Deactivated] on 14/10/2018 - 19:09
          -1

          Thats your problem right there, if you had gone to a public hospital (not one that is privately operated - there is only a few around), they probably would have treated him no problem.

          I was in the UK and subject to reciprical health, but when I went into hospital for emergency treatment they did't even bother getting me to sign all the paperwork and present my medicare card.

          • fatal on 16/10/2018 - 15:46
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: They have no reciprocal health policy. It would have been the same even if they had gone to a public hospital - we don't treat overseas visitors who don't have an agreement with Australia for free.

      • argamond on 16/10/2018 - 21:46

        why is travel insurance a must if the hospital would have treated anyway?

    • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 13:29
      +1

      thank you, our hospital room cost $1700 per day which roughly the same, not sure about the surgery

    • cbastien on 14/10/2018 - 20:36

      I was in the case were no australian citizen could vouch for me. Even with a private insurance who confirm they will cover all costs, they "forced" me to pay 12000aud before starting the emergnecy surgery i needed.
      I kind of understand them as the insurance took 3 months to reimburse me.

      (Private hospital)

      I say "force me", but not really, it s just you don t want to have a fight with your surgeon about money just before the surgery, so you just agree to whatever they ask for.

    • Melb69 on 14/10/2018 - 10:59
      +7

      They will chase the bill down if he has signed paperwork. How do you expect the healthcare system to pay for the costs? The tax payer. Do you expect it for free when they went to the emergency for help or due to accident that needed medical assistance.

      • mbck on 14/10/2018 - 11:34
        +7

        Lol this is the:

        I want everything for nothing. Everyone else has to pay.

        Mentality.

        • Diji1 on 14/10/2018 - 15:01
          -7

          Oh is that why Australians vote to give their money away to the super wealthy every election?

          • mbck on 14/10/2018 - 16:13

            @Diji1: Lol we all give money for things we don't need.

            IPhone xs for 2 grand, buying bargains for the sake of getting a bargain, going on annual holidays for a couple of grand, etc.

            I think it's too easy to say "we give money to the rich". When most are trying to "make it" by over spending.

            Anw this isn't the forum for that so I'm elsewhere now.

            • Charity on 16/10/2018 - 17:58

              @mbck: … there is a stark difference between volunteering to give Apple 2 large for an iPhone… and a different story when the money is taken by force using the colour of law.

              • mbck on 16/10/2018 - 19:22

                @Charity: Taken by force, er no. It's to save a life. If not then to keep the possibility of an independent lifestyle, walking on own legs.

                But the bigger issue is, considering op wants to endanger her own father to save money, that's silly.

                And keep in mind the above is from op pov. Ie, may be unreliable.

                • Charity on 16/10/2018 - 19:43

                  @mbck: I agree that OP's poor decision-making skills and outlook leave a lot to be desired. lol

                  BTW, seems like OP's current mindset is not only to continue to weasel of of paying the hospital, but now to sue the shopping centre where the accident happened. Can you believe that? lol

    • Scrooge McDuck on 14/10/2018 - 15:56
      +10

      Never pay a dime,

      Let me guess, welfare recipient?

    • parisienne on 15/10/2018 - 10:14
      +1

      Sorry to say srhardy…NO,IT'S NOT.They WILL send letters from debt collectors and will not just "try it on"..they will succeed.It is people like you that are part of the reason the hospital system is as it is ("yeah,the government can pay for my stupidity and it happens all the time,so i don't care").

    • srhardy on 15/10/2018 - 10:51
      -7

      I check with a hospital billing staff and was told the offical and unofficial story, I stand by my comment…

      • HighAndDry on 15/10/2018 - 12:30
        +3

        I hope the next time you need to use the public health system you get turned away.

    • uiriamu on 16/10/2018 - 22:05
      +1

      Freeloader alert. You are a liability to society

  • Randxyz123 on 14/10/2018 - 11:29
    +48

    My dad (70 yrs old) come for visiting (visitor visa) and don't have travel insurance

    Oh deary me.

    First of all isn't it a requirement for some visitor visas to HAVE travel insurance? He has possibly breached his visitor visa…

    Secondly…

    We go to emergency at public hospital (on saturday) after xray they found out my dad have hip fracture which need operation, at first we reluctant to do surgeries due to cost

    With all due respect, what was the alternative?? Just leave your dad with a broken hip?

    WHY didn't he have insurance? Also why the heck should the Australian taxpayer cover it?

    Don't listen to people saying "don't pay". You really should pay. Does your dad have any savings? Are you able to get a personal loan?

    I'm sorry to hear about your dad but really… What was your alternative solution?

    • mbck on 14/10/2018 - 11:33
      +14

      Agree. I can't imagine telling my dad, hey you can't have the op now coz it's too expensive. Kid, you are an expensive investment for him.

      • Randxyz123 on 14/10/2018 - 14:16
        +15

        You haven't answered why you didn't get travel insurance(or why he didn't get it)… Not being able to afford it is not an answer. Another thing is, I really wouldn't flag to anyone that you don't have it or make it known to immigration as your father could be deported and things could get very complex if he wanted to come back.

        What you don't seem to get is that there would be probably no time to consult with your home country doctor. Additionally given his age flying him back would be an issue for all sorts of reasons, one of which not being able to move the entire flight which would increase the likeness of DVT or clotting around the fracture not to mention being extremely uncomfortable…

        Coming back to the money aspect, you might get some money from the shopping centre assuming they were at fault (that is, for example, not putting out slippery when wet signs).

        but they seems reluctant to give us any xray photos (we ask multiple times)

        Maybe because you haven't paid yet?

          • MessyG on 15/10/2018 - 08:24
            +9

            @missyy: There is no way any airline would have let you fly back home with a fracture that required emergency surgery. Even if your second opinion said 'come home to have it done', the risk would be so high it could have killed your father.

            As far as not providing the x-rays go - on the weekend the radiology department has minimal staff so they wouldn't have been able to provide you with a CD. This would have meant taking photos of a screen with your phone and sending them overseas which is completely suboptimal and outside of quality practice. I'm not surprised they were reluctant.

            And finally, I'm curious to know - is your father from a country where healthcare is free?

            • missyy on 15/10/2018 - 18:30
              -1

              @MessyG: no, in our country healthcare is not free, thank you for response

          • Icecold5000 on 15/10/2018 - 10:42
            +16

            @missyy: Sad that your Dad has to go through this but as an Australian taxpayer I do not want want public healthcare funding to go to people who are not entitled to it and who should have known better. I travel overseas regularly I ALWAYS have insurance. Its only about $100 per trip for me but it gives me peace of mind.

            Sounds like you're an Australian resident so atleast you are lucky enough to be able to work and help pay for the medical costs which may come to tens of thousands of dollars.

            Don't try to be a cheap-ass and try and get you Dad on a plane so you can save $$$. He will be in extreme physical pain throughout the journey if he is even let on the plane in the first place.

          • lgacb08 on 15/10/2018 - 12:08
            +5

            @missyy: That would be a lie. Given your dad age and his travel history definitely Immigration had clearly conveyed the message about the necessity of health insurance with him when he made the visa application. It was also extremely likely that he might have been asked to provide evidence of health cover while they were assessing his visa application because that is the standard procedure for such applicant nowadays. Your family has chosen to ignore the advice and now bear the consequences. Sorry for what happened to your dad but sometimes lesson can only be learned the hard way. Regarding the cost, no point pushing them for the number because it's not like buying a cup of coffee. The way the system work is what happened has happened, your only call is hoping he's recovering well you get released earlier and don't put stress on him

            • missyy on 15/10/2018 - 18:33
              -1

              @lgacb08: not sure what "lie" you mention above, so far i check my dad visa grant notice (5 pages) nothing mention travel insurance

            • spasto on 15/10/2018 - 23:37

              @lgacb08: From https://www.finder.com.au/short-term-visitors-to-australia

              Who is a short-term visitor?

              A short-term visitor to Australia is someone staying in Australia on one of the following visas:

              • Visitor visa (subclass 600)
              • Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601)
              • eVisitor (subclass 651)

              You may also be able to take out cover if you’re here on other visas. For example, if you’re travelling on a 457 temporary work visa or a 417 working holiday visa.

              Who qualifies for short-term visitor travel insurance?

              You need short-term visitor travel insurance if your visa is one of the above visas and you're staying in Australia for a maximum period of 12 months. These policies ensure that you are protected against a range of common travel risks while in Australia but they are designed for people who are only staying for shorter periods of time.

              • ladybug1 on 16/10/2018 - 00:16

                @spasto: Yes, it is not compulsory, he has not breached anything, but obviously it's the smarter thinkg to do.

          • taoz on 16/10/2018 - 21:50
            +1

            @missyy: who do you think is going to cover the bills??
            Why would you think its free?

      • Klasglart on 14/10/2018 - 16:21
        +3

        Hospitals won't just provide you with patient xray photos just because you ask. There is a formal process in disclosing health information such as xray results. Your doctor can request a copy of the xray result from the hospital medical records as it would be covered under 'on-going care purposes'. If you want to access your medical records because you want a copy, there's a fee associated with it.

        • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 16:25
          -1

          thats new to me, so patient is not entitled to access his own xray result (as we - my dad and me were never shown any xray result at all)

          • Quantumcat on 14/10/2018 - 16:32
            -6

            @missyy: What would you do with it if you got it? Put it in a frame and hang it on the wall? You're not the doctor, it isn't useful for you. If your father's doctor needs it they can get it.

            • missyy on 14/10/2018 - 16:37

              @Quantumcat: maybe if i pay for that, why not, anyway thank you for responding

            • R-Man on 14/10/2018 - 21:16
              +2

              @Quantumcat: Share it with another doctor for their opinion.

              Take it back to home country for any future reference, so that it doesn't need to be chased up across borders.

              And yes hang it up on the wall if so desired. Never experienced a hospital being reluctant to give us copies of our own x-rays before.

          • Randxyz123 on 14/10/2018 - 16:42
            +2

            @missyy: Sometimes they'll show you, other times they won't. Since the xrays are really only of any use to the doctors treating your dad there isn't much point giving you/your dad a copy. The only time they might do it is if you get an x-ray done and need to show a different doctor(like a specialist). They'll give you the xrays to give to him/her.

            Regardless you'll have to wait and see when the bill arrives how much it is. Are you able to pay on a payment plan?

            so what i think i have time to consult for second opinion if any test provided (which not)

            I don't really know what you mean but I'd say given his injury they needed to get him to surgery ASAP. They did a xray and saw he broke his femur. What other tests do you want?

          • lgacb08 on 15/10/2018 - 14:19

            @missyy: You should consider yourself lucky he's at public system because they normally give out medical record at your request. Google Breen vs Williams for more info. By reading your post and comments, I think you'd be very surprised to find that medical system in Australia and other developed countries works very differently to where you came from.

            • missyy on 15/10/2018 - 18:35

              @lgacb08: yes it sure was, from where i come from, hospital is very transparant about cost and surely when they discharge, you will know total amount of hospital bill

        • nikey2k27 on 15/10/2018 - 00:15
          +1

          Yup, that is true if want copy you have pay for a copy to be made.

        • spasto on 15/10/2018 - 23:45

          X-rays are generally sent directly to your GP. Perhaps your dad's doctor can request them but why would you go through this process if your dad's already gone through ER?

          I doubt very much that your dad's GP would refute the ER's recommendation if he did indeed break his hip.

      • zoob on 14/10/2018 - 18:11
        +4

        Surgery was the only option. He could hardly fly anywhere with a fractured femur given the potential complications, let alone the pain.

      • Flanders on 15/10/2018 - 02:58
        +2

        we're thinking to have surgeries back in our countries

        They probably would not have allowed him on the plain with a fractured hip that requires surgery.

      • onevstheworld on 15/10/2018 - 07:43
        +1

        hoping to consult with our home countries doctor

        Even if you were to consult with a doctor from your home country, unfortunately your dad doesn't really have many options. The reality he has 2 options: get the surgery here in Australia, or get a medical evacuation and get surgery in home country.

        In terms of medical evac, your dad will be in extreme pain, unable to walk and probably will need to lie flat during the flight; so no commercial airline would take him. He'd have to go on a private jet, possibly one specially outfitted for an unwell patient, and with a paramedic or nurse accompanying him (plus a doctor if he is unwell enough). Then he'll also need to cover the cost of getting the plane and staff back to Australia. None of this is cheap, and he runs the risk of a complication happening mid-air.

        There is a 3rd option: it's called palliation… hardly appropriate in this situation.

        • snook on 15/10/2018 - 16:39

          I saw a guy on a recent flight with a torn tendon. He couldn't walk and was in extreme pain, but he was accessed as able to be flown home in lay-down business class. His wife was with him.

          • onevstheworld on 15/10/2018 - 21:32

            @snook: A torn tendon is hardly the same as a broken hip… tendons aren't load bearing, so you can still put weight through the leg. Despite being painful, you're not making the injury worse. He probably was also able to use crutches, or transfer himself from seat to wheelchair… very few 70 year olds with a hip fracture can do either of those things.

            Even at it's least severe (undisplaced), most people will not be able to sit up without very strong pain killers. Putting any weight through that hip can potentially displace the fracture, making it worse. At it's most severe, the leg will be displaced, rotated, shortened and bent at an unnatural angle… you need to go into traction for that… noone will be fitting a traction pulley to an airline seat. Finally, there can be a fair amount of internal bleeding caused by the hip fracture… usually not enough to cause serious problems, but not ideal if you're flying long distance… you get quite dehydrated, and oxygen levels are lower.

      • snook on 15/10/2018 - 16:37

        missyy

        xrays are digital these days and you can only get a copy from the xray department after a written authorisation from your Dr. I was in hospital for 2 weeks with 3 broken parts and I never saw an xray, nor could i obtain a copy, even though they said they'd arrange it. They are just too busy to deal with this stuff.

        They wouldn't have let him fly anyway. Risk of DVT is too high with injuries.

    • Piranha2004 on 14/10/2018 - 22:01

      This. Especially at that age, Ive known friends and relatives who have had to take out either travel insurance or private health insurance for their parents. Im not sure how this was not the case in this instance.

    • SlickMick on 15/10/2018 - 11:04

      It took almost a year to get a visa for my father-in-law to visit Australia. We had to get medical reports proving he was healthy, plus insurance also. I thought anybody over a certain age needed this??

  • mbck on 14/10/2018 - 11:32
    +27

    Come on. Your dad needed it. You got good care. That's the bill.

    Im sorry it happened, and I hope your dad recovers well and can be independent in the near future. Take this as a lesson moving forwards, always have insurance. There's no one to blame but yourself. Don't put it on anyone else.

    • Gravy on 15/10/2018 - 09:17
      -3

      Op was given false information by hospital staff, there is blame to be laid there even if they should have had travel insurance. “ at first we reluctant to do surgeries due to cost but when we meet the orthopedic surgeon, he say not to worry about cost as hospital can cover it on compasionate ground”

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