Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Jury sides with hospital that deported injured illegal immigrant


What obligations do hospitals have to treating severely injured illegal immigrants?

In a case that has drawn the attention of the advocacy and medical communities, a jury in Stuart, Fla., decided that Martin Memorial Medical Center did not act unreasonably when it chartered a plane and repatriated a severely brain-injured Guatemalan patient against the will of his guardian. The case is likely to become a point of reference for hospitals trying to determine their obligations toward uninsured illegal immigrants.

Check out the New York Times for their stories on the jury decision and a previous article raising questions about the case involving Luis Alberto Jiménez and Martin Memorial hospital, which provided Mr. Jiménez life-saving care and kept him as a ward for several years before undertaking his repatriation.

Photo: (AP Photo/Steven R. Martine, Stuart News)

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

The jury is right and the hospital is right. Who on earth would be allowed to stay "for years" in a hospital with no insurance and no payment? I can't even make a dr appt without providing all my insurance information.

Anonymous said...

Im surprised the bleeding hearts didn't keep him forever. An average white man would have been thrown out on his kester in days!

Anonymous said...

HERE IN PHOENIX AZ. WE HAD AN ILLEGAL GIVE BIRTH TO A 12 LB. BABY, AND GUESS WHAT? SHE CLAIMED THE DOCTORS SHOULD HAVE DONE A C-SECTION AND HURT HER BABT'S SHOLDER. SHE SUED AND GOT OVER $300.000 WHAT A COUNTRY! FREE MEDICAL AND A FAT LAWSUIT TO BOOT!ONLY A MEXICAN!

Anonymous said...

Wait till that "liberal activist" bitch gets on the supreme court! We ain't seen nothing yet. Sotomeyers mother should have "spit her out the car window" when she had the chance!

Anonymous said...

In this country, you have to be a minority with no job in order to get any medical assistance. This is very unfortunate for those that were born and have worked in this country but cannot get any financial assistance unless you are a minority.

Anonymous said...

I agree, I am tired of being white and NOT getting help myself! When I was down and out and on the streets the government DIDN'T help me, but so to your local DSS office and all you see are mexicans and blacks! COME ON I WORKED FOR 32 years PAID over $116K into Social Security, needed chemo and COULDN'T GET IT!

Anonymous said...

Wow. I guess it's time for me to get a deep tan, apply some shiny product in my hair, get a few tatts, and start speaking with heavy latino dialect.

I pay 400 per month, yet he gets it for free. I am tired of being white and having to bust my butt to keep health insurance.

Anonymous said...

You folks make me embarrassed to be white.
What you are upset about isn't white vs. immigrant.
It's coverage vs. no coverage.
White folks who get hurt and end up at the ER -- who do not have health care -- will be treated by the hospital.
Non-white folks who get hurt and end up at the ER -- who do not have health care -- will be treated by the hospital.
And they will incur that debt and be saddled with it.
If your coverage won't pay for treatment, you can still pursue it and incur that debt.
The problem here is: we don't have an efficient way to pay for folks who don't have health care coverage.
But no one should be turned away from medical care because they are poor.
What we need is a safety net -- a public option for health care.
We pay for it anyway.

Anonymous said...

DON'T BITCH AND MOAN! WHO VOTED THE NAZIS IN? WHAT IN HELL DID ANYONE EXPECT FROM A CHICAGO SOUTHSIDE PIMP? NOW WE GOT THIS "GEORGE LOPEZ" LOOK ALIKE DRAG QUEEN ON THE SUPREME COURT. THAT BASTARD IN THE WHITE HOUSE WILL NOW TRY TO "SHUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UP"! IT'S JUST LIKE WHEN "HITLER CAME TO POWER". THE DEMOCRATS ARE EXACTLY LIKE THE "NAZI PARTY"!

Anonymous said...

It is funny that the good majority of those who have posted here fall under the dumb ass, paranoid, conspiracy theory white a-holes. Stop bitching and realize that everyone is getting screwed not just whites. Leave your small town where everybody is related and realize that a large majority of immigrants pay taxes and contribute to the communities they live, but I guess for a good majority of you on this post THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN, but not soon enough.

Anonymous said...

The above post was brought to by an illegal immigrant.

Defensores de Democracia said...

Let's remember these guys that spoke so much Hate and Imbecility against Sonia Sotomayor :

Next Year 2010 is an election year .... Some say that Latinos are not going to remember what these guys in the Media say, plus Newt Gingrich, Pat Buchanam, Tom Tancredo, plus Jeff Sessions, John McCain, and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas that aspires to a Governorhip, and the Governor of Florida Charlie Crist may aspire to win more elections.

But let's us say NO to them !!! ........ Let's have phtotographic Memories !!

There are guys whose task and mission is to remind Latinos, Minorities and Millions of Nice Whites, who the Republicans are, and we can work in English and Spanish.

Now .... there is no bigger delight than Campaigns and Elections !!!

Have a very Nice and Beautiful Sunday !! .... a Pleasant Country day without too much heat and some wind to cool your picnics ....
Love for all of you !!

I am very happy and I love Mr Obama and the Democratic Party !

Milenials.com

Vicente Duque ----- MILENIALS.COM

Anonymous said...

There are many things wrong in this country
and one of those things is commonality.
Instead of us thinking as Americans (AS A WHOLE)
we seperate and go off into our own little
skin-colored or religious corners. We have
lost the very premise by which we were founded.
Mexican, African Americans, American indians,
Asians, Irishmen, Germans, Jews and the list
is forever.

I agree with the hospital on not providing
this individual with medical attention but not
from a hate view. illegal is the problem, and
unfortunately this should be case by case.
No hospital will take the time to go case
by case. I imagine this will become a reference
point for future encounters. Topics like this
definately give those whom hate so deeply
the opportunityto excercise there
American freedom privilage to speak their
mind, what an abuse of our constitution.

Anonymous said...

Is just so funny when i'm reading all this people talking about black, latinos and they go church every sunday, do not use any coin if don't say in good we trust.
if you love God you love your brothers.

Anonymous said...

HAH! ILLEGALS COST L.A. COUNTY 44 MILLION DOLLARS A MTH. IN FREE HEALTH CARE. NATIONWIDE THE TAB IS OVER 11 BILLION A YEAR FOR FREE HEALTH CARE. NO WAY ARE THEY A PLUS. DOES MEXICO WANT THEM? HELL NO! THEY SHOULD HAVE SHIPPED HIS CRIPPLED ASS BACK THE DAY THEY FOUND OUT HE BROKE INTO THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY!

Anonymous said...

well you may want to change this Country History but you can't, look back in your family if is any inmigrant there.
good look. Inmigrant are here illegally or not, that never ever is going to end, but we can make every body pay taxes that way help with medical cost. but for that we need a inmigration reform.( a lot illegally inmigrant pay there taxes anyway)

Anonymous said...

The comment above was posted by an ignorant illegal. No real American wants amnesty for people who have no respect for the laws of this great country. They should have sent that crippled bastard back on a bus long before he ran up a huge hospital bill.

Anonymous said...

The jury and the hospital did the right thing. Too bad our government does not enforce immigration laws.

Anonymous said...

Spain ownes California much like France still oanes Louisianna Arizona, New Mexico and many Southern States are still owned by spain Yes this is true Even the Carolinas was owned and may still be by Prince Carolina of Spain so you see the U.S. is foriegn owned We have an obligation to give some reduced health care to these People . I would like to see Latino Docotrs and Nurse give their time to treat and then write the time off for pro bono.

Anonymous said...

i think the People who dont have insurance should get on a Government program until they get re hired and then pay a little for reduced treatment; People should get a minmuim treatment

Anonymous said...

The comment above was posted by an ignorant illegal. No real American wants amnesty for people who have no respect for the laws of this great country. They should have sent that crippled bastard back on a bus long before he ran up a huge hospital bill.


TO BAD I'M NOT IGNORANT ILLEGAL....I'M CITIZEN ...SORRY , NOT BECAUSE EVEYBODY DON'T THINK LIKE YOU IS A INMIGRANT...THAT MAKE YOU!!! A IGNORANT PERSON.I JUST BELIEVE IN GOD.