The Fugitive

That's the nub of the problem. Does he have somewhere to stay when he gets there? Unlikely, if he is very elderly and skint he will have sold up long ago. Australia is especially expensive as are air fares in general at the moment. The more we think about it the more sense there is in him throwing himself upon the mercy of his local Immigration Office especially as they already know of his plight and are 'soft pedalling' so far?

Maybe that is the reason his local Immigration Office are 'sympathetic'. As already suggested by UbonJoe the safest course of action is to exit at airport, pay fine and accept a ban. But depending upon how elderly and how poor the guy's health is would it hurt to consult an agent before doing this? Appreciate that it may cost quite a lot. The other option would be a direct approach to an Immigration Officer in the hope that they would be receptive to making a 'special arrangement'. If the guy could find and take with him a Thai person of repute (such as a school teacher) it may greatly improve his chances of success.

Agree! 'VYKE' is another solution. $16 USD per annum to rent a virtual mobile number. Receive voice calls and SMS free. Outgoing at very reasonable rates. International roaming becomes a thing of the past as does changing your number if/when you switch mobile service providers.

Good point, you would think so. A couple of weeks ago my mother-in-law suffered a head injury causing a brain hemorrhage. She was transferred (my wife went in the ambulance with her) from our local community hospital to a more specialised hospital and from there to Provincial hospital. Doctors at all three said there was nothing that could be done. Ambulance brought her home to die. A doctor visited her at home three times over several days. On the final visit he told us that mum had died and that her breathing was now 'automatic' and would continue until her heart stopped. It was a further 48 hours until that happened and we could call the undertaker.

Thanks for the encouragement! I inherited the Honda Wave from my father-in-law but my Mrs has now given it away to a friend in need. The XMAX was not an intentional purchase, she helped out a friends son who was unable to maintain the instalments and it now (sort of) belongs to her so I believe?

Interesting thread. Long story but the wife now has an XMAX 300. I haven't tried to ride it yet but nobody has mentioned this scooter yet. Anything to beware of for someone used to a Honda Wave base 100?

Interesting issue. Most Thai's seem to want their relatives to die at home for the convenience of family and friends and to organise the 'street party'. The ventilator wouldn't keep his 'life' functions going forever. It would be reasonable to want to reuse the machine as soon as possible for someone else who could be helped. We know that doctors can't kill people but this patient was actually dead and the doctor was seeking agreement to 'pull the plug'. I wouldn't expect his heart continued beating for very long after that.

Good and helpful info. Many thanks!

Seems standard. My neice collided with a girl on a moto who was undertaking whilst she was making a left turn in her car. The policeman who attended happened to be a family friend. He ordered my neice to pay the girls hospital bill (we were never sent/given one hence didn't pay), repairs to moto and compensation for light injuries (scrapes and bruises) of 1,000 baht. No action was taken about lack of driving licence(s).

I understand palliative treatment is a relatively new regime and extends beyond zapping the patient with morphine every 4 hours at the very end game. If I was very short of cash and/or didn't have anyone to look after me I would love the peace of mind that I wouldn't suffer unnecessarily when my time came. However, those existing on state pensions only with no savings wouldn't/couldn't buy insurance no matter how low the price. Unfortunately, it is those who need it the most.

Absolutely! The belief that you can always return to your home Country for medical treatment is false security. As I posted if Thai insurance companies offered cover for palliative treatment only (prescriptions and comfort giving/pain relieving medicines only) it could hopefully significantly reduce the cost.

Being realistic is vital, as you say. You may believe that being the wrong side of 65 if from USA (or any age if a Brit) is not a problem because you can return for treatment. But not if you are seriously injured or suffer a stroke for example. It should be possible to elect for palliative treatment only to minimise pain and suffering during your time remaining. In the same way as signing a D.N.R. (do not resuscitate). That would enable health insurance to be obtained at a much reduced rate plus give some peace of mind too?

Definitely agree! It depends upon what, when and where.

True. Unfortunately at the time my Mother was dying (2013) in my home Health Authority there were no hospice places or nursing home availability. There was also a bed crisis in the hospital. Staff were acting under orders to clear beds. I was told it didn't matter if I rang for an ambulance 10 minutes after my Mother was discharged to my home address because that would then be regarded as a separate, subsequent admission. The nurse told me I would receive assistance from the Social Services Dept and not to worry about living alone. The Council hospital social worker then dug his heels in budget wise and refused to provide support. I was advised to go to the press but the hospital relented and allowed my Mother to die on the ward. She suffered at the end from lack of pain relief due to short staffing.

What you are asking for is similar to the complete life stories of what happened to the foreigners who are found dead and their cadavers clog up Thailands mortuaries. Nobody knows or cares. Nobody wants to claim their bodies and certainly don't want to pay for their funerals. Sad state of affairs but that's life (and death) for guys who choose to enjoy the cheap and sunny life abroad.

The guy's best friend is no longer around. But how would you have got him to prove it? It would be interesting to ask at a Government hospital if they would be prepared to perform costly surgery on anyone not covered by Thai Government scheme entirely for free out of the goodness of their hearts? What would you really expect them to say?

Statement of fact only. The ward with dying people had no airconditioning. But I would consider the comfort of the staff who had to work in there too? The guy had many options which could have avoided his predicament apart from taking out insurance including wearing a crash helmet, taking the bus or maybe walking. As it turned out he didn't suffer and didn't pay to the Thai National Health Service either.

Very true. In defence I would state, from my own experience in seeing what happened to friends and family members that I would believe a Thai doctors diagnosis if he said that illness/injuries are intractable i.e. nothing further can be done. Doctors in the U.K. consider age and consequently the return upon investment to be the deciding factor.

Difference maybe between care and treatment. The guy who came off his moto received A/E treatment, thus saving his life and stabilising him. Then they requested payment for treatment performed up-to-date and 1.5 million baht for necessary brain surgery moving forward. The guy had no savings and no motor insurance, health plan or 'one-off' accident cover. The Government hospital didn't discontinue care but understandably wouldn't perform the brain surgery without payment. The guy was kept clean and didn't suffer while he was unconscious and dying of his head injury.

Thanks for confirming what many of us know to be true. Private and Government hospitals will (and do) discontinue treatment when funds run out. The only difference I am aware of was an instance in a Government hospital of a guy needing brain surgery as a result of a moto accident. As he was unconscious he was moved onto a 40 bed non-airconditioned ward of terminally ill patients where he expired from his injuries.

At one time I believed that my (U.K.) National Health Service was a good organisation, focussed on providing the best treatment according to the needs of the patient. My own experience with the death of my Mother taught me otherwise. Terminally ill patients (and a terminally ill person is still a patient in my book) often believe that if they can get out of the hospital and go home they will somehow be better. This delusion is encouraged by NHS staff because it saves money and clears the bed. They then tell you that in discharging they are only complying with the patients wishes. Some are uncomfortable doing this because they know that palliative treatment ceases. My Mother was assessed daily by a doctor and prescribed twelve tablets to relieve the symptoms of her metastatic disease. Three daily 15 minute visits by a district nurse are no substitute. If I was placed in the same position again I wouldn't answer my 'phone to the NHS staff and would leave (abandon) my relative in the hospital. That way they would receive more merciful treatment until death.

Correct! Before that they do that they try everything they can to convince/persuade you and your relatives that you are better off dying in the comfort of your own (or a relatives) home. That way, they only have to provide three fifteen minute visits by a nurse each day. It's all about money and freeing up beds for patients who can be treated. Very difficult to argue against.

Could have been a genuine mistake by the seller or an attempt to catch you unawares and obtain payment twice?

Friend of my Thai Mrs visited the other day. Her Swedish husband has recently died at 66 from destruction of his liver and stomach by whisky. His pension wasn’t enough to support his habit and consequently she struggled to find 150,000 baht funeral expenses. His pension has stopped and the poor woman is really up against it now. My Mrs has taken out a 300,000 baht funeral plan for me with ThaiLife. It’s a 20 year plan, annual premium 31,920. If I survive the term (I’m 66) the premiums paid are refunded in full plus a 60,000 baht bonus totalling 698,400. No payout in the event of death within the first 2 years. I would have appreciated ‘one-off’ accident insurance more but credit to my Mrs for taking the long term view!

Understand absolutely. However, knowing that insurance companies have a checklist of questions they go through before entertaining any claim, could you reasonably expect to be paid out? They would look at such things as was the bathroom already wet prior to your use? Have suitable tiles been used? I know mine definitely aren't! Was rubber matting insitu and securely fitted to reduce slip risk? Are your bones unduly fragile indicating some medical condition which you may or may not have originally disclosed or subsequently failed to update them about? I knew someone who was literally so clumsy that she repeatedly fell over her own feet. You can't expect an insurance company to pay out in such cases.