Can my friend be denied medical care because he doesn’t have money?
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Can my friend be denied medical care because he doesn’t have money?
My friend has been sick for the
past few days and tried to go see a
doctor at a walk in clinic. He went
to three different places and they
all refused to see him, because he
didn’t have money. Even though he
gets paid in a few days. He doesn’t
have insurance yet either but I
wanted to know if the clinics can
do that. Even when knowing when he
gets paid.
Asked on October 1, 2019 under Malpractice Law, Indiana
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
A walk-in clinic is a business. And just has another business has the the right to be compenated for ther dervices, so do they. In other words, they need not treat people for free. A hospital ER will treat your friend without payment.
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
Yes, they can do this: the clinics you describe and doctors are not charities and are not required to either treat people for free or to essentially "loan" them the cost of treatment and hope that the patient will pay them later. A public hospital emergency room should treat him, despite the payment issue, if his condition is accute, but walk-in clinics and private doctors do not have to, unless he can pay.
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