Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Pennsylvania

Mentally ill and medical bills

Is a clinically depressed person resposible for a medical bill if they refused treatment to begin with? (story below if you care)

My friend is clinically diagnosed as bipolar, manic depressive and is suicidial most of the time. He takes heavy perscription med every day. Last month he and his girlfriend had a fight. He left her house threatning to kill himself. She was so worried that she called the cops and had them look for him. They found him and commited him to a mental hospital against his will (they physically forced him to go). Now, he is being billed a lot of money for the ambulance ride (although he refused to sign anything in the ambulance). The insurance company says he must pay the bill. Does he have to pay the bill?

Thanks!


Asked on 12/16/02, 8:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Sheldon G. Bardach Law Offices of Sheldon G. Bardach

Re: Mentally ill and medical bills

Probably, unless he can prove that he was not a danger to himself at the time, or that no reasonable person would conclude that he was, in that case, he probably would not be liable for the costs.

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Answered on 12/17/02, 1:02 pm


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