John, and anyone else, quasi-contract question.

DEATHPIGGIE · I'm fat and nobody likes me

RE: John, and anyone else, quasi-contract question.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

Jason wrote:

Better bankrupt than dead, I say.

how bankrupt are we talking about here.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

someone may rather lose a hand or a limb than receive on site treatment and get bent over for the bill.

cheeselover · I NEED BABIES!!!

Moris, I think a better example of a time when someone wouldn't consent is a real life case where a minor child got hurt on the playground or something and was bleeding profusely. By the time he got to the hospital, if the doctor didn't do something immediately he would die from blood loss. So the doctor saved the boy's life even though the parents' religion led them to believe that blood transfusions were sinful and punishable by an eternity in hell. Because of quasi-contract, the parents had to pay the medical bills even though they would not have consented to the procedures performed and would rather their son died.

Jason · Only in cartoons

I think it's a better policy than assuming someone would be unwilling to pay for critical medical treatment that could literally save their life and limb.

You're forced to make a decision here; I think it is a better one to assume that people would want their lives saved.

cheeselover · I NEED BABIES!!!

exactly

Jason · Only in cartoons

cheeselover wrote:

Moris, I think a better example of a time when someone wouldn't consent is a real life case where a minor child got hurt on the playground or something and was bleeding profusely. By the time he got to the hospital, if the doctor didn't do something immediately he would die from blood loss. So the doctor saved the boy's life even though the parents' religion led them to believe that blood transfusions were sinful and punishable by an eternity in hell. Because of quasi-contract, the parents had to pay the medical bills even though they would not have consented to the procedures performed and would rather their son died.

The child should be removed from the parents' custody and the parents should be committed to a mental institution.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

Jason wrote:

I think it's a better policy than assuming someone would be unwilling to pay for critical medical treatment that could literally save their life and limb.

You're forced to make a decision here; I think it is a better one to assume that people would want their lives saved.

of course, this is really just a game of "what if"s . Charging for it after the fact seems very unethical to me unless the patient is willing to pay. I would want to give back to the doctor and if that included some money I would be willing, but some don't see it the same way.

cheeselover · I NEED BABIES!!!

You're talking about someone's profession here. You're a doctor. Someone comes into the ER needing immediate emergency care. You provide the service. You....don't get paid for the service?

Jason · Only in cartoons

cheeselover wrote:

You're talking about someone's profession here. You're a doctor. Someone comes into the ER needing immediate emergency care. You provide the service. You....don't get paid for the service?

Only if the patient decides they wouldn't have wanted it after the fact, apparently.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

I would pay, some people simply can't afford it.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

if a homeless man was mortally wounded and unconscious should a doctor turn him away cause he knows he can't pay his bill?

Jason · Only in cartoons

I'm pretty sure that's against the Hippocratic Oath.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

so you perform the operation or what have you and then...

-- Edited by MorisUkunRasik at 05:19, 2008-10-10

Jason · Only in cartoons

And then he can't pay you back, but at least you saved a life.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

but if they're not homeless and just not well off they owe you money?

Jason · Only in cartoons

They pay what they can, down to zero. The homeless guy presumably was already at zero.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

just because you're not homeless doesn't mean you're not already at zero. If someone is barely getting by what exactly do you expect from them. Why can't you just add them to the list "lives saved" just like the homeless person.

Jason · Only in cartoons

The doctor deserves payment. He isn't a slave.

MorisUkunRasik · World's Strongest Millionaire

if payment is impossible to give what exactly are you going after.