Briton's Dream Anniversary Trip to Thailand Turns into a Medical Nightmare

[soalbundy]

4 hours ago, hotsun said:

Consider vacations to countries with clean air, especially the elderly

and consider a govt. hospital instead of an up market rip off. consider now putting roller skates on your walking sticks and go down the docks for a sea voyage home.

[happysoul]

4 hours ago, MikeandDow said:

Is gofundme a public listed company yet ? would like to buy some shares make a fortune !

Open a gofundme page 😉

[peter48]

Surely this is why we take out holiday insurance? Can someone explain to me why their holiday insurance cover purchased in UK would not pay for these emergencies. Moreover do we know the UK insurance company involved. 

[thasoss]

Tonsillitis in India turns to deadly infection requiring immediate surgery in thailand...hear so many stories like this 

1 not taking proper care,or bad luck,or in thailands case unnecessary surgical intervention when some anti biotics may have worked 

Obviously I have no idea which one but there have been a lot of similar cases in thailand this year and the old GFM pitch.

[digger70]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

With their travel insurance failing to cover the necessary treatments, John has resorted to maxed-out credit cards and is now appealing to the public for help through a fundraiser.

Here we go Again.

What's with the Insurance companies .why have a Tavel insurance if they not Pay .

One has to be  100% Covered ,It will Cost ,But it will Pay in the Long run .

Make it Mandatory for people that come for holidays  to Los to Have a Full cover insurance /Travel insurance .

No Go fund Allowed.

[Grumpy one]

5 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Why, the ice isn't tap water

No, its freshly pumped from the Ganges River   

[Grumpy one]

5 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Why, the ice isn't tap water

No, its freshly pumped from the Ganges River   

[ignore it]

Consulting chatGPT

I asked if this was plausible

Reply a bit longish, but...

 

Chat reply:

Yes, it's plausible, though it would be an unusual and severe case. Here’s why:

 

1. Tonsillitis Complications – While tonsillitis itself is usually a mild infection, it can sometimes lead to serious complications, such as:

Peritonsillar abscess (Quinsy): A collection of pus near the tonsils that can cause swelling, difficulty swallowing, and severe pain. If untreated, it can spread.

 

Lemierre’s Syndrome: A rare but life-threatening infection where bacteria spread from the throat into the bloodstream, often leading to abscesses in the neck and sepsis.

 

Necrotizing Fasciitis: In very rare cases, bacterial infections can spread aggressively, destroying tissue and causing deep wounds.

 

2. Geographic Factor – In India and Thailand, bacterial infections (especially drug-resistant ones) are more common due to environmental factors, healthcare access issues, and high humidity, which can worsen infections.

 

3. Possible Explanation for the Wound – If Pamela's infection wasn’t treated in time, it could have led to:

 

An abscess bursting externally.

A surgical incision to drain an abscess.

Severe soft tissue infection causing skin necrosis.

 

If you’re writing a story, this scenario works, especially if Pamela delayed seeking treatment or had an underlying condition that worsened her infection.

 

or perhaps a Gofundme appeal?

[Chongalulu]

3 hours ago, 818Pilot said:

I can almost Guarantee they purchased the cheapest travel insurance policy possible, if they purchased one at all. Likely they only had baggage insurance or trip protection with no medical

 

Unlikely, travel insurance almost always starts with inclusion of medical insurance. So I'm inclined to start with the assumption, given the nature of her illness which would ordinarily be covered,that there was some undeclared pre existing condition which came to light during the claims process 

[Chongalulu]

7 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Here we go Again.

What's with the Insurance companies .why have a Tavel insurance if they not Pay .

One has to be  100% Covered ,It will Cost ,But it will Pay in the Long run .

Make it Mandatory for people that come for holidays  to Los to Have a Full cover insurance /Travel insurance .

No Go fund Allowed.

They likely did have travel insurance which on inspection would indicate cover. There's no way of knowing how they have invalidated it until a claim is made 

[ChipButty]

Get out of that hospital and get to a government one, 

[MalcolmB]

5 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Why, the ice isn't tap water

You have obviously never been in a Thailand ice factory’s 

[MikeandDow]

35 minutes ago, happysoul said:

Open a gofundme page 😉

Why??

[leonard beaven]

5 hours ago, Jimjim1 said:

I agree with you 98% with the other 2% being taken up by the reality that insurance companies apart from bankers are probably the most corrupt companies on the planet, every action they take is underhand and designed to remove themselves from the responsibility that we all trustingly pay them for.

I myself travel with £10,000,000 cover BUT trying to get a definitive answer from them when it comes to ALL of the things they will cover and take responsibility for is not easily forthcoming, so one lives in fear that in the event of something untoward happening one’s insurance company will be for armed with a way of getting out of it that it did not impart at the time of taking out the insurance.

I have commented here in the past about travellers duty to themselves and others regarding 100% foolproof insurance but on reflection I would dearly love to know how one can find it.

10,mill of cover,ain't you the lucky one.

You try getting a policy on a state pension,even worst. With previous ailments.Yeah I know what are we doing in Thailand with only a state pension,I ask you why not?We are just as entitled as you millionaire lot,are we not,if not why not.

[peter48]

You try getting a policy on a state pension,even worst. 

 

Yes that's tough but I think we all know that Thailand healthcare is now one of most expensive after USA. Years ago it was less apparent but now its very evident. Its even more vital to get high insurance cover when your older, have underlying conditions or appreciate in Thailand there are more risks through road accidents, motor bikes , high heat, city pollution, viruses, alcohol, less developed country with possibly more crime etc., Actually no matter what age ... so gap year and youngsters need best cover too. The old Scout Motto 'Be Prepared' then enjoy LOS. 

[Truth Teller]

5 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Why, the ice isn't tap water

And you know this for a fact in their particular situation how? Of course if that was the case here why didn't it happen to the husband as well? Either way it began in India,  a God forsaken country where the people hardly,  if ever,  bathe, reek of the smell of curry and openly defecate on the street with people of a lower caste cleaning it up doesn't surprise me. 

[Kerryd]

Wow - these scam "news" articles are being posted at a rate of what, one every 2 days now ?

And shocker - just like the guy supposedly in the Hua Hin hospital with a "mysterious ailment"  - she was in India just before coming to Thailand.

And lol - both stories claim they had insurance - but it expired. In this case they are saying they had 2 policies, one that only covered them in India and another for Thailand - but (naturally) it had "expired".
"John said: 'We have two insurance policies. One [...] was for like 134 days, which covered us for India. And of course, we came over to Thailand. 

'What they're saying, because we were in India and then went to Thailand, we're not covered on the insurance policy. 

'The [other] they're saying you get 31 days of cover, which is free, but because we left the UK on November 2, that cover ran out on December 2. We were thinking that would cover us for Thailand, but it didn't.'"

And, naturally, the story appears only in the Daily Mail - and has a GoFundMe already set up.

It's like there's a site somewhere that people can go to, pick a format and create a fake travel story that they can then sell.

What are the odds that 2 Brits (it's almost always Brits for some reason) both were in India, then both suddenly decided to travel to Thailand as well (within days of each other), and both end up in a hospital with a mysterious disease/infection and both find out their travel insurance "expired" and they suddenly need huge amounts of cash to pay their bills and return home.

And both stories end up in the Daily Mail within 2 days of each other, with GoFundMe links already set up.

Amazing coincidence eh ?

[steven100]

GO FUND ME ......  just do that  !!   

[Kerryd]

Duplicate - please delete.

[Truth Teller]

Just now, Truth Teller said:

And you know this for a fact in their particular situation how? Of course if that was the case here why didn't it happen to the husband as well? Either way it began in India,  a God forsaken country where the people hardly,  if ever,  bathe, reek of the smell of curry and openly defecate on the street with people of a lower caste cleaning it up doesn't surprise me. Of course no matter the cause I hop the best for them both.  Be sure to have reliable and reputable travel insurance. 

 

[hotandsticky]

2 hours ago, Funkymover said:

I bet despite your clear bitter hatred for the brits, if you meet them, you are all nice and buddy buddy to their face... why the hatred ?  was you bullied by one when you were a kid ?

 

I don't think that reply was meant for me.......................

[Truth Teller]

3 minutes ago, Truth Teller said:

And you know this for a fact in their particular situation how? Of course if that was the case here why didn't it happen to the husband as well? Either way it began in India,  a God forsaken country where the people hardly,  if ever,  bathe, reek of the smell of curry and openly defecate on the street with people of a lower caste cleaning it up doesn't surprise me. Is this a real incident or a scam for money?

 

[Mangkhut]

The interesting here apart from the womans wellbeing is why does the medical insurance the couple have dont cover this or at least some of the expences? 

[BritScot]

6 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

They should be old enough to know that you better make sure you have a decent health cover when you travel.

Im sure they thought so. Many years ago i had to sort out the refusal of "Bupha" Thailand in covering a friends hospital bill. I went direct to their head office in London and almost as soon as the phone went down Thailand paid the bill. I did the same with a new pickup (2006) but this time Japan got a call. Sometimes you just can't deal with Thailand.

[smew]

Thailand top destination for retired people......NOT.... crime, pollution, double pricing and insurance companies rip offs and not wanting to cover ….

 

 

[Deerculler]

These people had insurance and obviously it was not good. Insurance companies are rotten.

 But what makes me sick is the many stupid unfeeling and unintelligent comments on here.

 I hope the lady gets well soon.

 

[black tabby12345]

10 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

looking at the way some foreigners behave here it's clear age is no guide to being smart...

 

Sounds reasonable.

Being older, would not automatically mean they are any smarter.

Even though, they better be...

[black tabby12345]

she has since undergone four surgeries to remove infected tissue, incurring medical expenses of £15,300 (approximately 651,000 baht) so far.

 

Did she go to pricy private hospital?

Instead of the less expensive public one?

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Wow - these scam "news" articles are being posted at a rate of what, one every 2 days now ?

And shocker - just like the guy supposedly in the Hua Hin hospital with a "mysterious ailment"  - she was in India just before coming to Thailand.

And lol - both stories claim they had insurance - but it expired. In this case they are saying they had 2 policies, one that only covered them in India and another for Thailand - but (naturally) it had "expired".
"John said: 'We have two insurance policies. One [...] was for like 134 days, which covered us for India. And of course, we came over to Thailand. 

'What they're saying, because we were in India and then went to Thailand, we're not covered on the insurance policy. 

'The [other] they're saying you get 31 days of cover, which is free, but because we left the UK on November 2, that cover ran out on December 2. We were thinking that would cover us for Thailand, but it didn't.'"

And, naturally, the story appears only in the Daily Mail - and has a GoFundMe already set up.

It's like there's a site somewhere that people can go to, pick a format and create a fake travel story that they can then sell.

What are the odds that 2 Brits (it's almost always Brits for some reason) both were in India, then both suddenly decided to travel to Thailand as well (within days of each other), and both end up in a hospital with a mysterious disease/infection and both find out their travel insurance "expired" and they suddenly need huge amounts of cash to pay their bills and return home.

And both stories end up in the Daily Mail within 2 days of each other, with GoFundMe links already set up.

Amazing coincidence eh ?

 

You think it's a scam? A fake? How do you account for the photo of the woman in the hospital?

[terryofcrete]

9 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Irish people don't like British people .

Its xenophobia more than racism 

Most nationalities don't like ENGLISH people .... but ..hey... I'm Irish ... and funny enough...most Nationalities like us ! Wonder why ?