Experience with medical care in Cabarete

5POSTS

last year

Hola, I am new to the page.聽 My mother has lived in Cabarete DR since 2011.聽 She went to Centro Medico in Cabarete on February 15th for stomach pain. She had expat health insurance through Monumental. The hospital performed a surgery on my mother that left her with a 15 inch jagged scar down her stomach and 37 staples. The hospital told me and siblings (we live in the US) over the phone that our moms health insurance had run out and said they needed $2,000.00 in two hours, or they would kick her out of the hospital. We were so panicked, we immediately paid the money.聽 They provided us with no bill, no invoice, and no receipts of what type of surgery our mother had, and what we were paying for. Once they saw we would pay the money, they decided they needed another $7,000.00.聽 The rates kept going up, and they kept threatening us.聽 They ended up taking the drain tubes out of our my, stole her passport, and sent her home. She died. I am working with the US Embassy now on the next steps. An Embassy worker told me these "Private Hospitals" and "Private Clinics" will take your passport (which is not legal) because then you have no way to get home for proper medical care. She told me and my siblings we were lucky they sent our mom home to die, that some of them will hold a body, not releasing it until the family pays the thousands of dollars. Again, you get no bill, no invoice....nothing.聽 I am making it my mission to share this with anyone and everyone who decides to go to the DR.

1 member reacted to this post

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planner Dominican Republic Expert

17774POSTS

last year

I am sorry for your loss.聽 You have posted this to make everyone aware of what happened in more than one location.聽 Please don't post it in multiple threads.

HoustonTXGirl New member

5POSTS

last year

@planner What is the problem with posting this on multiple threads? Wouldn't you do the same?聽聽***

Moderated by Bhavna last year
Reason : Rules must be followed
We invite you to read the forum code of conduct

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

1950POSTS

last year

@HoustonTXGirl

I'm sorry for your loss and what your mother and siblings have been through.

No one is saying you can't share your story, and no one is trying to cover up the actions of the hospital and its staff, but this forum does have rules. This thread in particular is for introductions only. We try to keep any other conversation off this thread and in an appropriate one. I didn't see your multiple posts, but there is a reason we request info only be posted once. Every thread in this forum has pretty much the same audience. If you tell your story once, you've reached most everyone who would potentially see it when you post it multiple times.

Maybe it would be helpful to create a new thread dedicated to this topic? Folks can share their experiences in similar situations and offer potential solutions for reporting the abuse, recovering funds, obtaining medical records, etc.

@Bhavna - Can the original post be moved to a new thread so that this important topic gets the attention it deserves?

4 members reacted to this post

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17774POSTS

last year

@HoustonTXGirl

My point is that there are rules on this page.聽 Start a thread and have this conversation!聽 I have zero issue with that! Anyone who posts the same thing multiple times gets the same type of response

This thread is for welcomes and introductions not for discussions!

The rules were set up to keep this forum organized and usable!

2 members reacted to this post

Bhavna Team

43493POSTS

last year

Hello everyone,

Please note that this new thread has been created on the Dominican Republic forum as the introduction thread is only meant for introductions

@HoustonTXGirl, welcome on board !

Sorry for your loss !

As much as we want to help, forum rules should be respected. The introduction thread is meant only for introductions of new members and copy paste is not welcome !

This thread has been specially opened so that you can express yourself.

Regards

Bhavna

3 members reacted to this post