Posted by
Cristy Li on Wednesday, August 06, 2008 3:43:34 PM
On August 4 Li Xiao-Mei, first contacted the Ohio State University Medical Center as she has been in pain, a molar broke off in her mouth and the topical Orajel simply was no longer cutting the pain and having to use it almost on the hour and taking in excess of 3,700 mgs. of Tylenol, Li called the Emergency Department.
A Woman answered the phone at 1:04 am and told Li that while the E.R. Docs would treat her for her pain, she would have to wait until the next morning to go to their Dental Clinic at the Hospital---the Woman from the Hospital Emergency Dept. connected Li to the Dental Clinic and Li learned, that the Clinic is open between 8:30 am and 10:30 am doesn't accept appointments and requires its patients to have acceptable forms of Insurance or payment of $86.00 in cash would be required before any treatment would be received, there is no sliding scale for patients that can't afford medical care.
Li is now desperate, in constant pain all the Ohio State University Medical Center will do for her is provide medication for pain relief without treating the condition.
Would not that be like a patient needing medical care from a gun shot wound and the hospital saying, "we will treat your pain but before we can remove the bullet, what kind of insurance do you have? No insurance, we accept cash."
The
Ohio State University Medical Center prides itself in being as being "...one of the largest and most diverse academic medical centers in the country...driven by a mission to improve peoples lives..." just as long as one has the proper insurance or carries enough cash on them.
Twelve year old Deamonte Driver died of a tooth ache after bacteria spread from his tooth to his brain. A routine $80.00 tooth extraction may have saved his life but his Mother couldn't afford it. By the time Deamonte's tooth got any attention, the bacteria from the abscess spread to his brain and after two operations and more than 6 weeks in the hospital the boy died.
In 1986 Congress enacted the
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act in response to a surge in patient dumping by hospitals that refused to treat individuals who were unable to pay for medical care. Under the EMTALA all hospitals (which includes the Ohio State University Medical Center) that participate in the Medicare program including their doctors are duty bound to provide medical care regardless of a patients ability to pay.
Two days later, Li continues to be in pain, she simply can not afford the $86.00 that the
Ohio State University Medical Center is demanding that she pay for a tooth extraction, currently running a temperature from time to time, suffering from headaches due to the pain and thumping that she feels, Li has no place to go for medical care and treatment. Li hopes that she does not meet the same fate as Deamonte Driver.