The Fugitive

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.