Retention of patients due to non-payment, an illegal but common practice in the country

[windeguy]

Retention of patients due to non-payment, an illegal but common practice in the country​

Some medical centers use this mechanism as a guarantee to pay off the patient's debts.

Retención de pacientes por falta de pago, práctica ilegal pero habitual en el país

Algunos centros médicos utilizan ese mecanismo como garantía para lograr el saldo de las deudas del paciente

www.diariolibre.com

 

[chico bill]

The Dominican hospitals are like the Hotel California.
"You can check out but you can never leave"

 

[CristoRey]

Very common indeed.
I've always told my family if I die in the DR do not attempt to collect my body
as I have heard way too many stories of families being extorted or financially bled dry by people "helping"
a dead foreigner's relatives retrieve the remains of their beloved family member.
Another classic case of know before you go.
Buyer beware.

 

[cavok]

Both CMC and Bournegal won't let you leave until the bill is paid.

 

[josh2203]

Bournegal won't let you leave until the bill is paid.

"Bournigal"... Correct and for HOMS and Plaza de la Salud as well... I'm used to this and actually see nothing weird in it...

 

[bob saunders]

Obviously, the medical centers have experienced people not paying, thus the need to collect before release. Union Medica does this, as does the medical clinics in La Vega.

 

[NanSanPedro]

It's hard to see a problem with this, given there are govt docs and hosptials available at no or minimal cost. If you go private, expect to pay.

The only caveat I can think of are unreasonable charges, like $10 USD for a band aid or something along those lines.

 

[Lucifer]

According to the article above, a man was taken to an OBGYN center in SD, where he received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

 

[windeguy]

I am familiar with the policy of payment before release from hospitals I posted in the OP I made.

What I did not know is that this policy by hospitals and clinics is illegal. So, there is that.

 

[JD Jones]

I am familiar with the policy of payment before release from hospitals I posted in the OP I made.

What I did not know is that this policy by hospitals and clinics is illegal. So, there is that.

One of the reasons they don't want an unaccompanied patient.

 

[windeguy]

It's hard to see a problem with this, given there are govt docs and hosptials available at no or minimal cost. If you go private, expect to pay.

The only caveat I can think of are unreasonable charges, like $10 USD for a band aid or something along those lines.

The problem with it? The policy is illegal. At least that is the problem I see.