.A most unfortunate accident occurred to a Mr. Matt Hayes, a young English teacher from America. He was injured this last week by hitting a truck on a rented motorbike, and was reportedly not wearing a helmet. He was rushed to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, where, his expat friends contend, he was turned away from emergency room treatment because of having no ID on him. According to reports, Matt was then put on a pick-up truck and advised to drive to Chonburi hospital. He didn't survive the road journey and died of internal bleeding.
The PEC and Pattaya People reporters will be seeking three hospital statements about what their emergency admission policy is, and whether ID's are required. Matt's expat friends conjecture that he might have lived if treated on arrival at BPH.
I'm frightened by this. Accidents happen! If our emergency treatments depend upon presenting an ID which we just might have lost in the accident etc. . . . We should find out what our local hospitals in Korat do require. Maybe a tattoo by the embassy or whatever.
Who's got an idea how we can secure treatment if we get into a situation like that. Always carrying our passports not only puts them in the danger of getting lost but, as I said before, when people have accidents there could be vultures around, pretending to help. Things might disappear.
And I thought Aesculapius was influential among doctors. But the name of the game "medical tourism" seems to be money only.