EreluY:


It's only the padre, and not the seductionist(s), who is under oath. The latter has nothing at stake, really. The padre either sticks it out or quit if he no longer has the moral stamina and resolve to stay true to his calling. In the same manner, if a medical doctor cannot stay true to her/his calling with reference to the Hippocratic oath, s/he should (if s/he has a conscience) call it a day perhaps by moving into another sector where s/he can stay true to her/his calling. Junior doctors in England are currently demanding better working conditions with a threat that if the government fails to act, they'll move to other parts of the UK (especially Scotland and Northern Ireland) or abroad (Middle East, Australia, Canada, etc.). Rather than fold their arms and watch patients die, they'll simply move elsewhere. Only then can they, like Pontius Pilate, wash their hands clean of a patient's blood.

sofadj:
I own a hospital in Southwest- (not Osun state Nigeria ...lol). I currently have about 17 patients on my ward each of whom I have admitted at several occasions through emergency. None of these patients has paid upto 30% of his/her bill. Some of them have stayed upto 7 weeks on the ward. I admitted and attended to them based on the fact that their conditions were life-threatening as at the time they came. I made their bill known to them - and they signed before they were treated. But there is a common trend, as soon as they felt relief and became stable they pleaded for their bills to be reduced - this I vehemently refused.

About 4 weeks ago a woman was rushed in with Eclampsia having just convulsed while pregnant and she was unconscious. I promptly took her straight to the theatre without collecting a dime though i had informed the relatives of the charges - #120,000 for her operation and medications. They signed and I carried out the surgery succesfully. Mother and baby survived. Within the following 6-days they paid a total sum of #12,000 and they began pleading to go home for the child's christening ceremony. I looked at them with disdain. Till now, they have only managed to pay a total sum of #14,000.

Another man who was managed for strangulated hernia has only paid 20,000 out of 75,000 bill. And the list goes on. Their failure to pay has made it difficult for the hospital to replace consumables and medications needed to manage other people's condition.
In the early hours of today 1:30am, a woman was rushed into the hospital following delivery at the referrral center. Blood had refused to stop gushing out. I did a quick assesment and realised she would need more materials than the hospital pharmacy currently had in store. I could have my staff get from a nearby pharmacy too. However, the husband said he had no money on him and so did the numerous relatives that accompanied. It was indeed a familiar pattern. I decided to let them go. I referred her to a government hospital. Ofcourse they pleaded for me to help but there was nothing I could do. Few minutes after they left - just few metres from my hospital gate, she collapsed. She had lost a lot of blood. I rushed there and rigorously tried resuscitating her right there outside the hospital 2am early morning, but all efforts proved abortive. A young woman of 28years had just died after having her first baby. Screams, wails, cries ensued. I felt bad - this is not why i became a doctor. But her blood is not on my hands.

Her blood is on the hands and heads of all the patients on the ward who can afford to pay but refused to - on the grounds that - "What will they do?. Her blood is on the hands and heads of the government officials past and present who have made it difficult and impossible for workers to get paid for their work. But the government officials are not the target of this my narrat. It is aimed at those who take hospital healthcare and medical doctors for granted. Those (including myself) who emphasise that doctors should not put money first before treating emergency conditions. In emergency cases, relatives would go to any length through any struggle to get money. As soon as the situation becomes calm, they relax and then they refuse to pay.

Last year a distant relative of mine was delivered of her baby via Caesearian section (in a hospital in Lagos- not mine). They were billed #180,000 which they accepted before the operation. After the surgery, her husband called me and asked how much I charge and i told him. He then began pleading with the management of the said hospital to review his bill. They declined. The husband being who he is, paid #120,000 and absconded with his wife and his newly born son. How he did this, I do not know, but i know that at the christening ceremony a week later, he had two cows slaughtered to celebrate the birth of his first son.

Many times we complain of doctors who ask for charges before treating patients but no one has ever bothered to ask the doctors why they do? Doctors are humans too, we need to pay bills. This is our trade, our profession, our means of livelihood. We have needs too. We can not go to the market place with the ID showing that we're doctors and hope to get food items on credit. We need to pay our children's school fees, we need clothes , shelter etc just as you. Everywhere in the world healthcare is expensive, both services and materials are exepensive. Well we understand that you may not have money. The government should find a way. The government should find a way/policy that ensures that we get our money back after we have rendered our service. In the UK there is the National Health Scheme, in the United states they have health insurance schemes too in addition to Medicare, Medicaid. In Nigeria we have the barely effective, poorly regulated and massively corrupt National Health Insurance Scheme.

Well i have decided to change the modus operandi of my institution. The previous one has not benefitted anybody. Henceforth if any one comes to my emergency room without a dime. I will not attend to. If such a person dies, the blood is not on my hands, its on the hands of those who have received

treatment in the past and failed to pay afterwards.

nefertitiram:
Dr sofadj please, I use God to beg you, please reconsider your stance. If you go through my profile, you will understand y I am begging u.

I was rushed to R-Jolad in Lagos at 4am on a Sunday morning, with the exact case the woman that died had. Placenta abruption, I nearly bled to death. I had 4 pints transfused.

I was leaving for US to deliver my baby, I had bought ticket, made some expenses such that hubby and I had no more cash at that instance. We didn't have N20k with us at dat time of the morning

They decided to operate immediately, hubby asked how much, d doc told us my life was most important, dey couldn't even wait to screen all d 4 pints of blood. He should sign, save my life before we discuss money.

That was how I survived the ordeal. The babies died but I survived. I was admitted for 10 days b4 they brought any bill. We sold off our dollars to foot d bill of almost 300k.

If RJOLAD did not admit me that day, without a dime, where would I have been? There's no day I don't pray for RJOLAD.

My point is don't cut off the nose to spite the face. God will reward you and replenish your pockets.

yetseyi:



An average Nigerian wont contribute.

EreluY:


It's only the padre, and not the seductionist(s), who is under oath. The latter has nothing at stake, really. The padre either sticks it out or quit if he no longer has the moral stamina and resolve to stay true to his calling. In the same manner, if a medical doctor cannot stay true to her/his calling with reference to the Hippocratic oath, s/he should (if s/he has a conscience) call it a day perhaps by moving into another sector where s/he can stay true to her/his calling. Junior doctors in England are currently demanding better working conditions with a threat that if the government fails to act, they'll move to other parts of the UK (especially Scotland and Northern Ireland) or abroad (Middle East, Australia, Canada, etc.). Rather than fold their arms and watch patients die, they'll simply move elsewhere. Only then can they, like Pontius Pilate, wash their hands clean of a patient's blood.

sofadj:
I own a hospital in Southwest- (not Osun state Nigeria ...lol). I currently have about 17 patients on my ward each of whom I have admitted at several occasions through emergency. None of these patients has paid upto 30% of his/her bill. Some of them have stayed upto 7 weeks on the ward. I admitted and attended to them based on the fact that their conditions were life-threatening as at the time they came. I made their bill known to them - and they signed before they were treated. But there is a common trend, as soon as they felt relief and became stable they pleaded for their bills to be reduced - this I vehemently refused.

About 4 weeks ago a woman was rushed in with Eclampsia having just convulsed while pregnant and she was unconscious. I promptly took her straight to the theatre without collecting a dime though i had informed the relatives of the charges - #120,000 for her operation and medications. They signed and I carried out the surgery succesfully. Mother and baby survived. Within the following 6-days they paid a total sum of #12,000 and they began pleading to go home for the child's christening ceremony. I looked at them with disdain. Till now, they have only managed to pay a total sum of #14,000.

Another man who was managed for strangulated hernia has only paid 20,000 out of 75,000 bill. And the list goes on. Their failure to pay has made it difficult for the hospital to replace consumables and medications needed to manage other people's condition.
In the early hours of today 1:30am, a woman was rushed into the hospital following delivery at the referrral center. Blood had refused to stop gushing out. I did a quick assesment and realised she would need more materials than the hospital pharmacy currently had in store. I could have my staff get from a nearby pharmacy too. However, the husband said he had no money on him and so did the numerous relatives that accompanied. It was indeed a familiar pattern. I decided to let them go. I referred her to a government hospital. Ofcourse they pleaded for me to help but there was nothing I could do. Few minutes after they left - just few metres from my hospital gate, she collapsed. She had lost a lot of blood. I rushed there and rigorously tried resuscitating her right there outside the hospital 2am early morning, but all efforts proved abortive. A young woman of 28years had just died after having her first baby. Screams, wails, cries ensued. I felt bad - this is not why i became a doctor. But her blood is not on my hands.

Her blood is on the hands and heads of all the patients on the ward who can afford to pay but refused to - on the grounds that - "What will they do?. Her blood is on the hands and heads of the government officials past and present who have made it difficult and impossible for workers to get paid for their work. But the government officials are not the target of this my narrat. It is aimed at those who take hospital healthcare and medical doctors for granted. Those (including myself) who emphasise that doctors should not put money first before treating emergency conditions. In emergency cases, relatives would go to any length through any struggle to get money. As soon as the situation becomes calm, they relax and then they refuse to pay.

Last year a distant relative of mine was delivered of her baby via Caesearian section (in a hospital in Lagos- not mine). They were billed #180,000 which they accepted before the operation. After the surgery, her husband called me and asked how much I charge and i told him. He then began pleading with the management of the said hospital to review his bill. They declined. The husband being who he is, paid #120,000 and absconded with his wife and his newly born son. How he did this, I do not know, but i know that at the christening ceremony a week later, he had two cows slaughtered to celebrate the birth of his first son.

Many times we complain of doctors who ask for charges before treating patients but no one has ever bothered to ask the doctors why they do? Doctors are humans too, we need to pay bills. This is our trade, our profession, our means of livelihood. We have needs too. We can not go to the market place with the ID showing that we're doctors and hope to get food items on credit. We need to pay our children's school fees, we need clothes , shelter etc just as you. Everywhere in the world healthcare is expensive, both services and materials are exepensive. Well we understand that you may not have money. The government should find a way. The government should find a way/policy that ensures that we get our money back after we have rendered our service. In the UK there is the National Health Scheme, in the United states they have health insurance schemes too in addition to Medicare, Medicaid. In Nigeria we have the barely effective, poorly regulated and massively corrupt National Health Insurance Scheme.

Well i have decided to change the modus operandi of my institution. The previous one has not benefitted anybody. Henceforth if any one comes to my emergency room without a dime. I will not attend to. If such a person dies, the blood is not on my hands, its on the hands of those who have received treatment in the past and failed to pay afterwards.

Originalsly:
Guess her blood is on your conscience....no amount of money can erase that. I am shocked that you as a doctor would be bringing your patients' medical issues to a public forum. Was it necessary? ....isn't there some kind of privacy code? You own a hospital ...you should have a plan to ensure that the patients' bills are paid....guarantor/have collaterals, something... but not be putting the people business and sufferings out here in public and claiming blood is not on your hands.

daretodiffer:



What have I done now?

sofadj:
I own a hospital in Southwest- (not Osun state Nigeria ...lol). I currently have about 17 patients on my ward each of whom I have admitted at several occasions through emergency. None of these patients has paid upto 30% of his/her bill. Some of them have stayed upto 7 weeks on the ward. I admitted and attended to them based on the fact that their conditions were life-threatening as at the time they came. I made their bill known to them - and they signed before they were treated. But there is a common trend, as soon as they felt relief and became stable they pleaded for their bills to be reduced - this I vehemently refused.

About 4 weeks ago a woman was rushed in with Eclampsia having just convulsed while pregnant and she was unconscious. I promptly took her straight to the theatre without collecting a dime though i had informed the relatives of the charges - #120,000 for her operation and medications. They signed and I carried out the surgery succesfully. Mother and baby survived. Within the following 6-days they paid a total sum of #12,000 and they began pleading to go home for the child's christening ceremony. I looked at them with disdain. Till now, they have only managed to pay a total sum of #14,000.

Another man who was managed for strangulated hernia has only paid 20,000 out of 75,000 bill. And the list goes on. Their failure to pay has made it difficult for the hospital to replace consumables and medications needed to manage other people's condition.
In the early hours of today 1:30am, a woman was rushed into the hospital following delivery at the referrral center. Blood had refused to stop gushing out. I did a quick assesment and realised she would need more materials than the hospital pharmacy currently had in store. I could have my staff get from a nearby pharmacy too. However, the husband said he had no money on him and so did the numerous relatives that accompanied. It was indeed a familiar pattern. I decided to let them go. I referred her to a government hospital. Ofcourse they pleaded for me to help but there was nothing I could do. Few minutes after they left - just few metres from my hospital gate, she collapsed. She had lost a lot of blood. I rushed there and rigorously tried resuscitating her right there outside the hospital 2am early morning, but all efforts proved abortive. A young woman of 28years had just died after having her first baby. Screams, wails, cries ensued. I felt bad - this is not why i became a doctor. But her blood is not on my hands.

Her blood is on the hands and heads of all the patients on the ward who can afford to pay but refused to - on the grounds that - "What will they do?. Her blood is on the hands and heads of the government officials past and present who have made it difficult and impossible for workers to get paid for their work. But the government officials are not the target of this my narrat. It is aimed at those who take hospital healthcare and medical doctors for granted. Those (including myself) who emphasise that doctors should not put money first before treating emergency conditions. In emergency cases, relatives would go to any length through any struggle to get money. As soon as the situation becomes calm, they relax and then they refuse to pay.

Last year a distant relative of mine was delivered of her baby via Caesearian section (in a hospital in Lagos- not mine). They were billed #180,000 which they accepted before the operation. After the surgery, her husband called me and asked how much I charge and i told him. He then began pleading with the management of the said hospital to review his bill. They declined. The husband being who he is, paid #120,000 and absconded with his wife and his newly born son. How he did this, I do not know, but i know that at the christening ceremony a week later, he had two cows slaughtered to celebrate the birth of his first son.

Many times we complain of doctors who ask for charges before treating patients but no one has ever bothered to ask the doctors why they do? Doctors are humans too, we need to pay bills. This is our trade, our profession, our means of livelihood. We have needs too. We can not go to the market place with the ID showing that we're doctors and hope to get food items on credit. We need to pay our children's school fees, we need clothes , shelter etc just as you. Everywhere in the world healthcare is expensive, both services and materials are exepensive. Well we understand that you may not have money. The government should find a way. The government should find a way/policy that ensures that we get our money back after we have rendered our service. In the UK there is the National Health Scheme, in the United states they have health insurance schemes too in addition to Medicare, Medicaid. In Nigeria we have the barely effective, poorly regulated and massively corrupt National Health Insurance Scheme.

Well i have decided to change the modus operandi of my institution. The previous one has not benefitted anybody. Henceforth if any one comes to my emergency room without a dime. I will not attend to. If such a person dies, the blood is not on my hands, its on the hands of those who have received treatment in the past and failed to pay afterwards.

olas24u:
Health insurance is the only way out .But really Nigerians don,t value health. We have corrupt government officials killing millions every day by stealing money meant for upgrade of facilities .We export humans to India for medical treatment and they pay hospital bills and hotel fees and feeding including transportation that benefits the economy of that country and they take away foreign exchange from Nigeria.Dudu

samdes02:
you're just being impractical really. Well gear up for the next wave of braindrain and it hurts me dearly cos it'll only worsen things.and hey next time you go see your GP tell him he swore an oath to always treat you free of charge .Lets face the country is messed up and the government just don't care

Rejoice5000:
My mum almost push me to that profession but i boldly told her i cant survive as a medical doctor period::because after free treatment i will also ask the patient if he or she has a transport fair:

dexpotter:
You have a right judgement. But should the latter be punished for the sins of those that came before them? What if u were not a doc n ur wife or mother fall into similar situation n u are not dere 2 hlp financially @ dat moment??

InvertedHammer:

/
The junior doctors are threatening a government that cares to listen. Doctors in Nigeria can threaten to move to Bermuda triangle and the government couldn't care less. Like I always say, most Nigerians are directly or Indirectly benefiting from the messed up situation called Nigeria. They will resist any transformation that may bring positive results in their lives collectively.

Originalsly:
Guess her blood is on your conscience....no amount of money can erase that. I am shocked that you as a doctor would be bringing your patients' medical issues to a public forum. Was it necessary? ....isn't there some kind of privacy code? You own a hospital ...you should have a plan to ensure that the patients' bills are paid....guarantor/have collaterals, something... but not be putting the people business and sufferings out here in public and claiming blood is not on your hands.

Originalsly:
Guess her blood is on your conscience....no amount of money can erase that. I am shocked that you as a doctor would be bringing your patients' medical issues to a public forum. Was it necessary? ....isn't there some kind of privacy code? You own a hospital ...you should have a plan to ensure that the patients' bills are paid....guarantor/have collaterals, something... but not be putting the people business and sufferings out here in public and claiming blood is not on your hands.

InvertedHammer:

/
Name of doctor: unknown
Name of hospital: unknown
Name of patient: unknown
Exact location of hospital: unknown

Therefore, no Privacy Act was violated by the OP.

Calm down.

\

EreluY:


Now, you've come full circle to the point I've made, repeatedly, on NL threads over the years. Nigeria is irrevocably doomed. Get out of that sh1t hole, if you can. The earlier the better. It's always been the case from pre-historic times that humans migrate.

And, yes sir, I pay my tax (too much tax is killing me right now but I don't really mind). I never ever discuss cost/funds/money with my GP over the past 20 years or so. Why? I pay my tax and the NHS is effective - simply the best in the world. Doctors in my necks of the wood take their Hippocratic oath very SERIOUSLY. And for those asking what Hippocratic oath means, for the umpteenth time, it refers to an oath taken "by ​people when they ​become ​doctors to do everything ​possible to ​help ​their ​patients and to have high ​moral ​standards in ​their ​work."