Can hospital detain a patient for non-payment?

This is a vey unfortunate sequence of events.

Although I don't know the rules around this but ine thing for anyone moving over is that they jeed to absolutely not rely on a single bank abroad.

I have multiple ways of transferring money into my Turkish accounts and have multiple foreign cards which can be used in most places.

With foreign card you'd want to have a way of retrieving a new card ahould you lose your existing one.

Easy to say after the fact but on a personal level it's what I've done in advance and yes we did get robbed and my wife lost all her cards and it was not a massive deal as a result. Yes it was an issue and it took weeks to process but replacing everything and getting a foreign bank card (Revolut amd Wise) delivered to Turkey was quicker than replacing the Turkish bank cards!

Traditional bank cards had to be sent by relatives in the UK

@ShamsD First of all your choice to retire in Turkey is a great choice. To answer some of your questions will take a little research on my part. But one thing to know is the hospitals here can not turn a patient away. Financial requirements come in as a second thing to be considered. I have a lot of information for you as I retired here from the USA 2 years ago. I will talk about the banking issues and everything related to making a life for yourself in a later posting if you want to make contact with me. Retiring to Turkey is the number 1 best thing I ever did in my life. Be prepared to pick a city you want to live in based on your current lifestyle. That is the number 1 most important thing to first do. Even though I have not done as much traveling in Turkey I have great resources to help you go thru the process. Every day I go to the pool to get my exercise here at the complex where I currently live. And it is now time for me to go. So again, I am here for you to answer any questions you might have, and there will be many things to consider. Talk to you later my friend.

Good afternoon DnCole, thank you for your reply. I would really appreciate any information regarding my friend's current situation. It's like a chicken & egg situation. He can get help if he can reach the Singapore consulate and possibly pay his hospital bill. On the other hand the hospital refuses to release him to reach them.

I look forward to hearing from you and chatting about happier things other than my friend's predicament.

@Muji86 Good day and thank you so much for connecting with me. I was of the same thought about having more than one bank account and to have an international health insurance and to report to the Singapore Consulate immediately upon arrival in Istanbul. But it is what is it.  If only the Hospital would trust him enough to release him to get to the consulate. I think that would be a win win situation - my friend can get help to get funds from his bank in Singapore and the hospital can get paid.

Anyhow, I am praying for the best outcome out of this mess. Again, thank you and have a great day.

@ShamsD I am just simple, if a credit card gets stolen, the company has to give a solution, DHL another one, or just communicate with the hospital, Wat type of company is this? It is not about the hospital (I would already imagine you have insurance anyhow if you work ???(why not), the credit card story does not fit.

You have to pay, simple as that, not getting food (apologies, I do not believe a word, Turkey is a good country, are you letting you die at their risk)

Sounds strange at the least.

By the way living in Canada and no bank accounts or assets there (what did you do?). Really are you really poor? I would say no good preperation, when I left with my wife to Turkey we had/have accounts in Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary and Turkey (no credit cards, but not essential at all). Bottom line when reading it sounds like a clever scam in the making.

No other assets in Singapore or Canada, together with husband, let us be realistic, just a few USD/EUR, you can help yourself, your family, but most importantly you have a relationship with your creditcard/bank card company and they can not block and send a replacement.

@cdw057

Good afternoon and thank you for your reply. I can understand your skepticism but you are not reading my message properly. It is not about me getting my credit card stolen but about a fellow Singporean facing this situation now in Istanbul. Your opinions on the situation is so naive. Did I ask for money? No I did not. I am looking for advice or information to help him get out of this situation. You are entitled to your opinion of course.

Just curious, why do you not have any assets in Canada where you lived for many years, why do you not have a good relationship with your bank in Singapore. If my card would be stolen, what is the issue? Many things can be arranged by phone.

You do not have to ask for money, ask for your own, how can it be possible that your own bank does not help you?

@ShamsD Honestly what is TRY 100 K, just around maximum USD 4 K, what is the problem?

No bank accounts (even without card), bank accounts only in Singapore (having lived in Canada for 10 years?), no family at all. Just pay and not complain about a little problem of payment) . As a side note I reported you as a scam, but the post is still active.

@ShamsD If you are a real friend you will pay.

No replies at all, I trust all has been settled with your bank and invoices paid. Happy for that. Just curious, did you pay for your friend (again TRY 100 K is acceptable).

@ShamsD As per other posts, if you are a real friend pay for him, alternatively contact his bank on his behalf even from hospital (he seems to be fine apart from balance due)

Hello everyone,

Please note that we are temporarily closing this thread for review.

Sorry for the onconvenience

Bhavna

[Topic Closed]