Throughout
my life I have heard many insane real life stories of people being sent
away from hospitals because they did not have proper documentation, or a
medical aid, or simply because they did not have money to pay for
health care. What is traumatizing about such stories is that the
individuals who were rejected for these reasons, were seriously injured!
I could not imagine!
Recently, on a smaller scale, but equally traumatizing, I experienced something similar. My beloved doggy, Leo, recently passed away in front of my eyes, because I suspect, I did not pay a deposit to have him admitted.
Early on Friday morning (9 March), I heard a lot of commotion coming from outside my house. Because it was not unusual for some dogs in my street to attack each other, I took little notice. It was only when I heard my husband yelling that I leaped outside. I knew my little Leo was in trouble.
By the time I got outside, my husband had already warded off the attackers, and I found Leo huddled up in a corner. He looked absolutely terrified, and wanted no one to touch him.
Three big dogs from the street had viciously attacked my nine month old Maltese poodle, who was bleeding profusely. I started calling around for vets and ended up at one where I was told that a deposit to admit him was not required and that it could be taken care of at the end of the month.
My husband and my brother rushed Leo off to the vet and I felt relieved: he was going to be OK! Twenty minutes later, I received a call from my family, from the vet?s office, informing me that they would not admit the dog without a deposit, because we are ?new clients?.
I was furious! Was that not precisely the reason I called beforehand? We were wasting precious time! Leo was hurt! I asked to speak to the doctor. Although I could hear him in the background after he was summoned, he never made to the phone so I could talk to him. I could however make out some of the things he was saying to who I suspect is the receptionist.
Anyway, he said things like ?they are new customers?, ?we cannot admit that dog without a deposit?, ?if they cannot pay the 500 dollars, how are they going to pay the 1000 dollars?, etc.
I knew we were wasting time, and so when the ?receptionist? finally got back to the phone to inform me that they could not admit the dog, I told her to give my dog to my brother so that we could take him to the SPCA for help.
Suddenly, the ?receptionist? tells me no, they cannot give me back my doggy because the attending doctor, while we were debating the deposit, already put him on a drip and administered anti-biotics. I was flabbergasted!
?What do you want me to do now?? I asked. I also informed her that I did call beforehand to inquire about the submission of a deposit, but was told it was not necessary. To this the ?receptionist? responded that the girl on call is ?new and does not know the vet policies that well yet?.
Now I was angry. I asked to speak to the doctor who attended to my dog. I related the story to her and she informed me that I ?had to find a way to collect the deposit?. In a very controlled voice I told her that they could not exactly blame me for the lack of knowledge of their secretary, and that since it was a misunderstanding we just had to level with each other.
I eagerly sent over my identity document and marriage certificate as they requested ? I guess in the event that I would move my whole life out of the country instead of paying N$1 000.
A few hours later, I received a call from the vet informing me that I could collect my doggy! I was elated! Excitedly I asked if he was OK? The nurse explained that the bite wounds were not too deep and that she managed to stitch them up without a problem. He is going to be fine she said!
When Leo got home, my heart sank to the floor. He seemed in pain and lifeless. I sat by him for hours, talking to him. That night I could not sleep. I was constantly watching and listening if he was OK.
First thing next morning, I called out to Leo. He was not on the comfortable cushions I had prepared for him. I peeped under the bed and there he was, weak and seemingly lifeless. I dashed over to him, picked him and put him on the cushions again. He was still alive!
With what seemed like his last strength, he wagged his tail for me. Then unexpectedly, he started stretching his legs. I told my husband, Leo was dying. I was right. He let out a few painful cries. I sank down next to him and told him it is going to be OK. It was not OK. He just ?. died.
I can tell you, as a journalist and even a crime reporter in South Africa, I had seen many dead bodies, but never ever, did I have the rare traumatizing experience to witness the life of a loved animal slipping away in front of my very eyes.
I was devastated. After a few hours of just taking in that my beloved doggy was gone, I picked up my phone, and called the vet. None of the doctors on call that day was there, but I did speak to a doctor. ?Was my doggy not supposed to be kept overnight for observation? Why was Leo sent back in such a short time? Was it because I did not pay a deposit??
The doctor admitted that Leo was in shock, and he also alluded to the fact that he was supposed to be kept overnight for observation!
Would he have had a fighting chance? I don?t know. I will never know. My gut tells me that there was an injustice. I could be wrong. You make up your mind.
When did we get to that point where making money took priority over helping a human being, or an animal that is injured? Who is the person that gets to make that call, and how do they sleep at night? How do you turn away an injured person or animal, because you suspect their owner or family will not pay? Hospital policy? According to the rules of the vet?
Now, I am sitting with an outstanding N$500 deposit, a bill of N$963.86, and no doggy.
I could not imagine!
Recently, on a smaller scale, but equally traumatizing, I experienced something similar. My beloved doggy, Leo, recently passed away in front of my eyes, because I suspect, I did not pay a deposit to have him admitted.
Early on Friday morning (9 March), I heard a lot of commotion coming from outside my house. Because it was not unusual for some dogs in my street to attack each other, I took little notice. It was only when I heard my husband yelling that I leaped outside. I knew my little Leo was in trouble.
By the time I got outside, my husband had already warded off the attackers, and I found Leo huddled up in a corner. He looked absolutely terrified, and wanted no one to touch him.
Three big dogs from the street had viciously attacked my nine month old Maltese poodle, who was bleeding profusely. I started calling around for vets and ended up at one where I was told that a deposit to admit him was not required and that it could be taken care of at the end of the month.
My husband and my brother rushed Leo off to the vet and I felt relieved: he was going to be OK! Twenty minutes later, I received a call from my family, from the vet?s office, informing me that they would not admit the dog without a deposit, because we are ?new clients?.
I was furious! Was that not precisely the reason I called beforehand? We were wasting precious time! Leo was hurt! I asked to speak to the doctor. Although I could hear him in the background after he was summoned, he never made to the phone so I could talk to him. I could however make out some of the things he was saying to who I suspect is the receptionist.
Anyway, he said things like ?they are new customers?, ?we cannot admit that dog without a deposit?, ?if they cannot pay the 500 dollars, how are they going to pay the 1000 dollars?, etc.
I knew we were wasting time, and so when the ?receptionist? finally got back to the phone to inform me that they could not admit the dog, I told her to give my dog to my brother so that we could take him to the SPCA for help.
Suddenly, the ?receptionist? tells me no, they cannot give me back my doggy because the attending doctor, while we were debating the deposit, already put him on a drip and administered anti-biotics. I was flabbergasted!
?What do you want me to do now?? I asked. I also informed her that I did call beforehand to inquire about the submission of a deposit, but was told it was not necessary. To this the ?receptionist? responded that the girl on call is ?new and does not know the vet policies that well yet?.
Now I was angry. I asked to speak to the doctor who attended to my dog. I related the story to her and she informed me that I ?had to find a way to collect the deposit?. In a very controlled voice I told her that they could not exactly blame me for the lack of knowledge of their secretary, and that since it was a misunderstanding we just had to level with each other.
I eagerly sent over my identity document and marriage certificate as they requested ? I guess in the event that I would move my whole life out of the country instead of paying N$1 000.
A few hours later, I received a call from the vet informing me that I could collect my doggy! I was elated! Excitedly I asked if he was OK? The nurse explained that the bite wounds were not too deep and that she managed to stitch them up without a problem. He is going to be fine she said!
When Leo got home, my heart sank to the floor. He seemed in pain and lifeless. I sat by him for hours, talking to him. That night I could not sleep. I was constantly watching and listening if he was OK.
First thing next morning, I called out to Leo. He was not on the comfortable cushions I had prepared for him. I peeped under the bed and there he was, weak and seemingly lifeless. I dashed over to him, picked him and put him on the cushions again. He was still alive!
With what seemed like his last strength, he wagged his tail for me. Then unexpectedly, he started stretching his legs. I told my husband, Leo was dying. I was right. He let out a few painful cries. I sank down next to him and told him it is going to be OK. It was not OK. He just ?. died.
I can tell you, as a journalist and even a crime reporter in South Africa, I had seen many dead bodies, but never ever, did I have the rare traumatizing experience to witness the life of a loved animal slipping away in front of my very eyes.
I was devastated. After a few hours of just taking in that my beloved doggy was gone, I picked up my phone, and called the vet. None of the doctors on call that day was there, but I did speak to a doctor. ?Was my doggy not supposed to be kept overnight for observation? Why was Leo sent back in such a short time? Was it because I did not pay a deposit??
The doctor admitted that Leo was in shock, and he also alluded to the fact that he was supposed to be kept overnight for observation!
Would he have had a fighting chance? I don?t know. I will never know. My gut tells me that there was an injustice. I could be wrong. You make up your mind.
When did we get to that point where making money took priority over helping a human being, or an animal that is injured? Who is the person that gets to make that call, and how do they sleep at night? How do you turn away an injured person or animal, because you suspect their owner or family will not pay? Hospital policy? According to the rules of the vet?
Now, I am sitting with an outstanding N$500 deposit, a bill of N$963.86, and no doggy.
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