Desperate British family begs for help to bring dying sister home from Thailand

[webfact]

Desperate family begs for help to bring dying sister home from Thailand as medical bills hit £36,000
BY SOPHIE DOUGHTY

Kathryn Williamson, 51, has been on life support in a Bangkok hospital for after collapsing while on holiday

TYNESIDE: -- A family has made a desperate appeal for help to bring their dying sister home from Thailand.

Kathryn Williamson, 51, has been on life support in a Bangkok hospital for after collapsing while on holiday.

Her family fear she has no chance of pulling through and the machinery keeping her alive should be switched off, the Chronicle Live reported .

But Kathryn’s sister Elizabeth Phillips said the Thai medics’ decision to keep her sibling alive, due to their customs and beliefs, has lead to huge medical bills being racked up.

Full story: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/desperate-family-begs-help-bring-8298543

-- Mirror 2016-06-28

[MissAndry]

Do they run up bills without Insurance or pre-payment?

I thought you had to pay in advance.

[Saraphee]

It seems she has been ill for a long time - and goes on holiday without insurance?

[The stuttering parrot]

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

If not and not trying to be smart but we have seen many times tourists not taking out travel insurance and ending up being stuck with hefty bills .

36,000 and rising and I didn't know if it's true about their statement about its Thai culture not turning off the machine. My wife did it for her father.

[Briggsy]

People in the UK are constantly shocked, surprised and offended that they are actually expected to pay for complex medical care involving the use of highly trained staff and specialist equipment and facilities.

One wonders how we got to this point.

[Alive]

A lot of people in this world are poor and they want to see the world too. And when you are going to die at an early age anyways, you don't really give a crap about rules or things like this too.

Edited June 28, 2016 by Alive

[Sealbash]

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

If not and not trying to be smart but we have seen many times tourists not taking out travel insurance and ending up being stuck with hefty bills .

36,000 and rising and I didn't know if it's true about their statement about its Thai culture not turning off the machine. My wife did it for her father.

It is not true. It requires the signature of next of kin, and they will cease the artificial life sustaining procedures.

Edit: referring to the "Thai Culture" statement

Edited June 28, 2016 by Sealbash

[muzmurray]

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiVv_2wv8nNAhVEOI8KHT38Bg0QFggnMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stc.arts.chula.ac.th%2FPublications%2Ffiles%2FEUTHANASIA.doc&usg=AFQjCNEWNOhCKZFXhA3vYGkDBVeD2WZv9A&sig2=XFHvReFiRlc7MVWpE6RTcQ&bvm=bv.125596728,d.c2I

A paper written on the law and ethics of removing life support, (in Thailand).

Edited June 28, 2016 by muzmurray

[MissAndry]

A lot of people in this world are poor and they want to see the world too. And when you are going to die at an early age anyways, you don't really give a crap about rules or things like this too.

When you are spending 500gbp on an air ticket for a two week holiday, being poor isn't really an excuse for not paying the extra 25gbp holiday insurance.

[bristolgeoff]

travel insurance comes to mind again,it happens again and again.no travel insurance,the medical problems and then put out the begging bowl.no thanks

[BEVUP]

Maybe she couldnt get insured or she would not be covered if she left her home town (Due to better care & facilities there ),an ins company policy (except in some very special circumstances ) Just had that said to me from within Auss

[SABloke]

''But Kathryn’s sister Elizabeth Phillips said the Thai medics’ decision to keep her sibling alive, due to their customs and beliefs, has lead to huge medical bills being racked up.''

So they should have let her die??? And then we'd have articles in the British press lambasting the Thai medical establishment for not being able and/or trying to save a tourist's life

#SisterOfTheYear #Not

[BEVUP]

Maybe she couldnt get insured or she wouldnt be covered if she left her home town ( due to better care & facilities ) an ins company policy )

Just had that happen in Auss

[futsukayoi]

Maybe she couldnt get insured or she wouldnt be covered if she left her home town ( due to better care & facilities ) an ins company policy )

Just had that happen in Auss

If it was a pre-existing condition then the insurance would not cover.

[Hedghog]

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

If not and not trying to be smart but we have seen many times tourists not taking out travel insurance and ending up being stuck with hefty bills .

36,000 and rising and I didn't know if it's true about their statement about its Thai culture not turning off the machine. My wife did it for her father.

Travel insurance doesn't cover preexisting conditions.

[thesetat2013]

People in the UK are constantly shocked, surprised and offended that they are actually expected to pay for complex medical care involving the use of highly trained staff and specialist equipment and facilities.

One wonders how we got to this point.

Heheee surely up are not comparing your comment to Thailand? Highly trained?

[Confuscious]

The biggest lump of tourist (apart from the usual poor backpacker) are elder people who, after a life of working and hardship, are able to make a holiday to the destination they always have been dreaming about.

Unfortunately, these elder people suffer already of some diseases.
Some inherent to the elder age and some others inherent to the job they have been doing for many years.

The point is that NO insurance company will validate a claim for a hospitalization for an existing disease.
This nullifies the cost of an expensive medical insurance which at the end will not pay a dime if something happens.

I agree with the posters who claim that Thailand (and other travel destinations) should not be held responsible if something happens to this people and the hospital will ask them to pay their bills before leaving the hospital.

But travelling without insurance is maybe the only resource these elder people have to see their dream be fulfilled before they die.

IMHO, when people reach the age of retirement and put a life of hard labour behind them, their own country should take care of them if something happens while on holiday.

Their own country has billions of $$$$$ to feed and house some immigrants who have never contributed to the Social Security of their country but has not 40,000 BP for his own citizens?

[meatboy]

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

If not and not trying to be smart but we have seen many times tourists not taking out travel insurance and ending up being stuck with hefty bills .

36,000 and rising and I didn't know if it's true about their statement about its Thai culture not turning off the machine. My wife did it for her father.

Travel insurance doesn't cover preexisting conditions.

mine did but i had to pay over 3 times as much as the wife did.and that was under certain conditions.

1,800,000bht.is a lot of money if you dont have it in thailand,but 36,000gbp.is available in the uk.with security.

the family need to raise the money in the uk,as there's no help here.

[Sealbash]

https://www.google.co.th/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiVv_2wv8nNAhVEOI8KHT38Bg0QFggnMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stc.arts.chula.ac.th%2FPublications%2Ffiles%2FEUTHANASIA.doc&usg=AFQjCNEWNOhCKZFXhA3vYGkDBVeD2WZv9A&sig2=XFHvReFiRlc7MVWpE6RTcQ&bvm=bv.125596728,d.c2I

A paper written on the law and ethics of removing life support, (in Thailand).

I am a simple layman, but it seems to me this paper is more in reference to Euthanasia, as in assisted suicide, rather than the removal of life support?

[Doc46]

They are desperate now,,,but they were not desperate enough to go on a holiday with no insurance,,,Self inflicted Drama let the Family sort out this one,,,Not an TV news,,,

[gk10002000]

While sounding a bit cold, if the family wants life support terminated,then the article text about wanting to bring the dying person home does not make a lot of sense. While I can understand the family's desire to bring the dead body home for whatever funeral or burial service they are looking for, I think they should consider the realities of the situation. When why worry about the hospital bill? As the saying goes "they can bill me", and good luck to the hospital collecting on the bill.

[SOTIRIOS]

....foreigners are all cash cows....

..dead or alive....squeeze out every drop.....

...nothing to do with beliefs......

...another travesty.....

...the family decides...not the bill collectors....l

[Mickmouse1]

Am sure the money could easily be raised in the UK if her case is published in any paper or on regional news . Britain is a benevolent society.

[Srikcir]

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

If not and not trying to be smart but we have seen many times tourists not taking out travel insurance and ending up being stuck with hefty bills .

36,000 and rising and I didn't know if it's true about their statement about its Thai culture not turning off the machine. My wife did it for her father.

Travel insurance doesn't cover preexisting conditions.

Some do but expect a higher premium appropriate for the risk.

http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-07-25/travel-insurance-and-pre-existing-conditions

[robblok]

The biggest lump of tourist (apart from the usual poor backpacker) are elder people who, after a life of working and hardship, are able to make a holiday to the destination they always have been dreaming about.

Unfortunately, these elder people suffer already of some diseases.

Some inherent to the elder age and some others inherent to the job they have been doing for many years.

The point is that NO insurance company will validate a claim for a hospitalization for an existing disease.

This nullifies the cost of an expensive medical insurance which at the end will not pay a dime if something happens.

I agree with the posters who claim that Thailand (and other travel destinations) should not be held responsible if something happens to this people and the hospital will ask them to pay their bills before leaving the hospital.

But travelling without insurance is maybe the only resource these elder people have to see their dream be fulfilled before they die.

IMHO, when people reach the age of retirement and put a life of hard labour behind them, their own country should take care of them if something happens while on holiday.

Their own country has billions of $$$$$ to feed and house some immigrants who have never contributed to the Social Security of their country but has not 40,000 BP for his own citizens?

Then nobody will take any insurance anymore and let the home country pay for it all. Its quite clear here the lady took a risk not taking insurance and now the family is in trouble. Maybe her estate when she dies is enough to cover it. Its now the families responsibility not your countries.

[shirtless]

Its a good money spinner to keep a patient alive even though there is little chance of recovery , I heard of some horror stories about Thailands Hospitals and how mercenary they are.

[Mister Fixit]

I don't get it.

If as the article stated that she had health problems since she was young surely there would have been travel insurance and this would cover the medical expenses .

Absolutely not.

If she had a pre-existing condition as you state, then she wouldn't get medical insurance for it. She would have to declare it when she applied and thy would exclude anything to do with that condition from the policy, if they even agreed cover at all.

If she didn't declare the condition, and the insurance company discovered it later (and they would because the hospital is under an obligation to tell them) they wouldn't pay the costs.

This is standard in all insurance policies.

[djayz]

I don't understand why the family don't pay the bills themselves... if they don't have the money then they should take out a load, earn money, sell their possessions, etc.

I'll never understand this "somebody else should pay for me" mentality. I absolutely despise such people!

Every other day there's a new fund this or fund that.

[djayz]

The biggest lump of tourist (apart from the usual poor backpacker) are elder people who, after a life of working and hardship, are able to make a holiday to the destination they always have been dreaming about.

Unfortunately, these elder people suffer already of some diseases.

Some inherent to the elder age and some others inherent to the job they have been doing for many years.

The point is that NO insurance company will validate a claim for a hospitalization for an existing disease.

This nullifies the cost of an expensive medical insurance which at the end will not pay a dime if something happens.

I agree with the posters who claim that Thailand (and other travel destinations) should not be held responsible if something happens to this people and the hospital will ask them to pay their bills before leaving the hospital.

But travelling without insurance is maybe the only resource these elder people have to see their dream be fulfilled before they die.

IMHO, when people reach the age of retirement and put a life of hard labour behind them, their own country should take care of them if something happens while on holiday.

Their own country has billions of $$$$$ to feed and house some immigrants who have never contributed to the Social Security of their country but has not 40,000 BP for his own citizens?

Then nobody will take any insurance anymore and let the home country pay for it all. Its quite clear here the lady took a risk not taking insurance and now the family is in trouble. Maybe her estate when she dies is enough to cover it. Its now the families responsibility not your countries.

+1 spot on!

[Mister Fixit]

A lot of people in this world are poor and they want to see the world too. And when you are going to die at an early age anyways, you don't really give a crap about rules or things like this too.

When you are spending 500gbp on an air ticket for a two week holiday, being poor isn't really an excuse for not paying the extra 25gbp holiday insurance.

Except that her pre-existing condition wouldn't have been covered ...