Hospital Wrongly Reports Death Of Patient

[prakhonchai nick]

The brother in law of a farang friend having been admitted to a Thai private hospital in a bad way, was reported dead after a few hours. The family commenced all the usual funeral preparations, erection of tents, food and drink purchase and preparation, notifying relatives and friends etc, only to be told a few hours later that he was not dead.

The patient is now recovering well, although a hefty bill is being run up.

Clearly the hospital were negligent in reporting his death. Does anyone have any knowledge of compensation, court cases etc in such cases, which I am sure have occurred before.

[tropo]

Compensation?

I would have thought the family would be celebrating after finding out he was still alive.

[Sheryl]

As we say in my home town...FUGGEDABOUTIT.

It is difficult enough to get compensation in Thailand when a patient has suffered serious injury or death due to malpractice. Not a chance in hel_l in a case where the patient is perfectly OK. The western "emotional suffering" concept and generally lawsuit-happy culture hasn't caught on here yet.

If the family is actually out any money, they might try a private meeting with the hospiotal management to request compensation of the actual financial loss.

As for the emotional roller coaster, I'd suggest taking it as a blessing in disguise, a chance to realize what really matters in life ad how much they really care about the non-deceased, while he's still around for them to tekll him.

[skippybangkok]

I would have thought the family would be celebrating after finding out he was still alive.

Well, if really a problem, nothing that a bit of Arsenic cannot solve