What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA
Hi, a 17 year old freshman student at a college went to a party, where he was given a drink. He's not a drinker, maybe tried a small amount of wine a couple times prior to that, that's it. He felt fine, but after getting back to dorm he threw up, and somebody called 911 (apparently, a freshman girl who got scared). He was already fine by the time when emc arrived, but probably pale. EMC didn't contact his parents, didn't ask if he wanted to keep it a secret from his parents. Instead, they told him he had to go with them to a hospital to be checked out for alcohol poisoning. He is used to listen to the adults, as well as he was scared, so he went with them. They told him he needed an IV and did it. After that they let him go, so he walked back to the dorm (with someone accompanying him since it was during a night). He called his parents the following day and told them what happened, as he never intended to hide anything, not to mention he didn't think he needed to go to the hospital and receive any treatments. He received 3 bills soon after, addressed to him: from EMT, from the hospital and from a doctor. The bills somehow show his year of birth to make him 21 (as if he was born in 1994), even though his student ID clearly stated he was 17 (actually born in 1998). The info was passed on to college, so it's not a secret from anybody. Since he's a student with a significant need based scholarship, he doesn't have money to pay the bills, and his parents don't have money either. Further, his parents are upset they were not contacted right away - they would have come immediately as they were only 30 mins away, and they would not approve taking him to a hospital. He's covered by insurance but didn't show it at the time, however, the insurance is high deductible, so the amount would be paid out of parents' pockets. What is your opinion regarding the situation? Should he or his parents pay the bill? Should they send it to the insurance? Or should they do something else? Obviously, nobody wants anyone's credit history ruined. Thank you.
Hi, a 17 year old freshman student at a college went to a party, where he was given a drink. He's not a drinker, maybe tried a small amount of wine a couple times prior to that, that's it. He felt fine, but after getting back to dorm he threw up, and somebody called 911 (apparently, a freshman girl who got scared). He was already fine by the time when emc arrived, but probably pale. EMC didn't contact his parents, didn't ask if he wanted to keep it a secret from his parents. Instead, they told him he had to go with them to a hospital to be checked out for alcohol poisoning. He is used to listen to the adults, as well as he was scared, so he went with them. They told him he needed an IV and did it. After that they let him go, so he walked back to the dorm (with someone accompanying him since it was during a night). He called his parents the following day and told them what happened, as he never intended to hide anything, not to mention he didn't think he needed to go to the hospital and receive any treatments. He received 3 bills soon after, addressed to him: from EMT, from the hospital and from a doctor. The bills somehow show his year of birth to make him 21 (as if he was born in 1994), even though his student ID clearly stated he was 17 (actually born in 1998). The info was passed on to college, so it's not a secret from anybody. Since he's a student with a significant need based scholarship, he doesn't have money to pay the bills, and his parents don't have money either. Further, his parents are upset they were not contacted right away - they would have come immediately as they were only 30 mins away, and they would not approve taking him to a hospital. He's covered by insurance but didn't show it at the time, however, the insurance is high deductible, so the amount would be paid out of parents' pockets. What is your opinion regarding the situation? Should he or his parents pay the bill? Should they send it to the insurance? Or should they do something else? Obviously, nobody wants anyone's credit history ruined. Thank you.
