Private hospital called out over questionable consent, billing

 

The patient’s family are questioning how the hospital was able to charge a credit card for a sum significantly higher than the pre-authorised amount they had agreed to. (Freepik pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The family of a 76-year-old woman has lodged an official complaint with a prominent private hospital in Kuala Lumpur over the conduct of one of its specialists, who they claim may have engaged in unethical practices.

The patient’s daughter, April Lu, said her family was shocked that the doctor secured her mother’s consent for administration of general anaesthesia just prior to surgery in the hospital’s operation theatre (OT).

She said the doctor was well aware of her mother’s medical history, which would suggest that she may have been medically unfit to sign the document without consulting her family.

Lu said her mother was admitted on July 4, and was scheduled to undergo surgery the next morning. She said the family was told the doctor would visit her later in the afternoon to introduce himself and confirm if the surgery can be carried out.

“By 7pm, he did not show up and we were informed that he may call us later. We waited until 9pm and were then informed he will meet us at 6am the next day. We were at the ward before 5.30am and were informed that the doctor will meet us at the OT.

I accompanied my mum to the entrance of the OT and there was still no sign of the doctor – right up to the point she was wheeled into the OT,

 Lu told FMT.

She said the family was told that the doctor had made her mother sign the letter of consent for GA in the OT just before the procedure began.

She added the doctor’s actions may have been unethical given that her mother had just been diagnosed with a medical condition that could affect her ability to make such decisions.

Lu also said it was done with none of the patient’s children present, and was improper given her mother was in a vulnerable and anxious state of mind minutes before the operation.

“We were given no opportunity to raise these concerns with the doctor, to appropriately assess the risks of GA with him ahead of the procedure, or evaluate the post-care requirements for the patient.

We had actively communicated to the nurses our desire to meet with the doctor and made ourselves readily available at his convenience, but he did not show up at any of the possible meetings he led us to believe he could make,

 she said.

No doctor’s visit, but billed

Lu said the family was further shocked when her mother was billed by the hospital for ward visits and consultation fees that never took place.

We had to confront the doctor twice to dispute the charges before he withdrew them, as evidenced by a credit note issued on the day of discharge,

 she said.

She said the hospital had also without consent charged the family for an amount remaining on the bill which was not covered and was significantly above the pre-authorised amount the family had agreed to.

We understand we are liable to pay, and of course we will pay. But our serious concern here is that they managed to charge my credit card significantly above the pre-authorised amount without my consent,

 she said.

Lu said the family wants an explanation on how the signature of an elderly patient was procured on the consent letter, given she may not have necessarily understood its purport.

We also want to know the checks in place to ensure doctors do not charge patients for tasks they did not perform,

 she said.

When contacted, the hospital told FMT that it would respond after getting feedback from the affected parties. - FMT