The Fugitive

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.

It was a fortnight ago when I went through albeit travelling economy class.

All I know from my limited experience is that, in my case, it functions as an intermediary payment facilitator that you have no choice but to use if you wish to use certain methods to pay bills or organisations (in my case PEA). If you are interested you could enter 'Counter Service' into Facebook search field and/or visit their website; www.counterservice.co.th. Lots to see there in Thai language. The reason I posted was because outfits such as PayPal seem to get bad press but I was genuinely impressed with the customer service I received from Counter Service.

Pay 3 PEA bills each month using U.K. debit/credit cards. This involves Counter Service. The other day I must have 'clicked away' too soon (or maybe a momentary glitch) and one of the three payments was not posted to PEA account. I gave it a couple of days to see if it would resolve automatically then decided to email; [email protected]. Received rapid response from Chanyaphat Thappimol saying now resolved. Very good customer service IMHO!

I have learned much from this thread. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to assist.

Great information!

Can only relate my own experience re; mesh repairs. In 2000 in U.K. I had an inguinal hernia repair. The surgeon told me he would be using mesh and to think of it as the stitching around a buttonhole that stops the hole from widening. No problems so far.

Totally agree. In July my brother-in-law died and in August my mother-in-law. My Mrs asked me for 100,000 and 50,000 baht respectively. I was happy to do the right thing.

When I needed to convert .docx to .pdf in order to upload to certain websites I always thought I needed Adobe Acrobat. However, I recently found out the 'Export As' function of Libre Office does this too. A great free Office suite!

Absolutely agree! Wouldn't like to ever be without Google docs & sheets.

Thanks for that. Strange how they were considered the 'bees knees' not long ago.

Wow! Very interesting, thanks for the information. Most thought provoking. Long may your good luck continue Sir!

Slightly different subject but my friend and neighbour was recommended to have a stent installed, purely as a long term preventative measure. He went along with that. His insurance quadrupled (must be a heart attack risk if has a stent installed). Also, anywhere he went afterwards for medical checks/treatment he faced the 'third degree'. Every doctor and nurse told him there was nothing in his medical history that could warrant fitting a stent so why on earth had one been installed?

Just a suggestion; the daily GP (they change constantly) at our local Community Hospital completely reviewed my Mother-in-Law's cocktail of medications, tweaking doses, prescribing alternatives and withdrawing others completely. Spent a lot of time with her. We were most impressed with the resultant improvement in her condition.