Both your comments are enlightening, and from a recent experience I don’t doubt that at least sometimes there is exaggeration or even coercion by medical professionals for one reason, money. I took an elderly neighbor to the emergency room because she had been dizzy for some days and then fainted. I am not a medical person, was this a stroke, a heart attack, or just maybe she wasn’t eating right? But to be safe, I called 911. An ambulance came with 3 paramedics and tons of equipment which they hooked up to her, all seemed very professional. In a manner of minutes they seemed to determine it was NOT a heart attack or stroke, but due to the fainting she should go to ER. In the ambulance more things were done, such as certain hook-ups to fluids and monitors. I followed to the hospital and the diagnosis was simple dehydration. Of course the paramedics did the right thing to turn her over to the ER. But the ER nurse started pointing out all sorts of things to me that were completely unnecessary, many different tubes and things they used in the ambulance. I asked why on earth would they do it, as a safety precaution? He said, no, they already knew it was not necessary for her, but this way the bill will be about $1000 more!
“He said, no, they already knew it was not necessary for her, but this way the bill will be about $1000 more!”
Unfortunately your example is reminiscent of many calls that I have been on. However the paramedics weren’t doing what they do to run up a bill. I doubt whether one person on the crew even had a clue what the charges would be. They were simply following their training and protocol. Please don’t get me wrong I work with some wonderful people. They are very professional. The problem that I have tried to describe starts when someone doesn’t want to play the game the way that protocol and training would dictate. These people are often given innacurate information to get them to go along with the system.
Yes, that was disgusting and the person blatantly admitting their unethical act is surprising.
It was my experience that medical people whether doctors, nurses or paramedics want to err on the side of caution and that’s for the benefit of the patient.
Many things are taken into consideration; vitals, symptoms, age, previous history, etc. Generally many things are ruled out by these but if an ER doctor or nurse wants to run up a bill they can do it with a person not aware of what’s taking place, which unfortunately is the majority of people. It’s wrong and unethical but it happens, however I don’t believe it’s the norm.