American Medical Response After arrest and against my will billed me $728.61 for half mile ride to psychiatric hospital Seattle Washington
On March 13, 2009 the police responded to my address after receiving a report of a gunshot outside my house. My wife told the officers I was bi polar and that I had taken my shotgun outside. I told them I had taken it outside earlier but that I hadn't fired it.
The officer in charge, Damon Deese, placed me under arrest but decided I would go to Harborview Hospital in downtown Seattle for a psychiatric evaluation instead of jail. After I was in custody the police called American Medical Response to transport me a little less than half a mile to the hospital. I was told that I had no choice in the matter and I was handcuffed and forced to board the ambulance.
I have since found out that the Seattle police department often transports prisoners to Harborview Hospital in police cars but made an exception in my case and called for the ambulance. They could have transported me that way since I was in not physically ill or injured.
I have spoken with American Medical Response and they have told me it doesn't matter that I had no choice about anything. Because I was the patient transported I am responsible for the bill period. I feel like the officers who arrested me were angry that I wouldn't confess to firing a gun and chose to punish me with an additional bill. I wonder how often the Seattle police department uses American Medical Response knowing what the outcome will be.
David
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Think
Spokane,Washington,
USA
Get your facts straight
#3General Comment
Thu, December 08, 2011
I am sorry that you feel that you were wronged in this case. However, the Police were called to your place for a domestic dispute. You did or said something to make the Police feel that you were not acting as a normal adult should so they placed you on a psych hold. It is a normal practice to call an ambulace for these patients because the Police are not Medical Professionals and if something medical was going on and you died then they would be held liable. You should feel fortunate that you were not arrested for discharge of a fire arm or brandishing a weapon, in this reguard the police did you a favor. Also if AMR was trying to overcharge you they would have taken you across town. Their billing practice is a base rate, plus milage and any treatment rendered ie restraints ect...
So dont blame the AMR crew as they were legally bound to transport you and the company has a right to charge for this service as they have a contract with your city or county. And dont blame the police as they were doing their job and you a favor. Put your big boy pants on and grow up and act like an adult, pay your bill and move on and make better choices. Then you wont have to deal with AMR or the Police.
Simon
Seattle,Washington,
U.S.A.
Pay the bill and stop embarrasing yourself
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, May 28, 2009
Let's see, you've broadcast all over the Internet that the police responded to your house for a domestic disturbance, they placed you under arrest and then put you on a 5150 hold (code word for crazy) and sent you against your will to a mental institution. And you're worried about a $700 ambulance bill? I'd be more worried about your reputation! Do you have any idea how many of your future employers are going to find this on the Internet when you apply for employment? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HIRE YOU! $700 is a small price to pay to keep the whole thing quiet.
In reality, the ambulance company had no choice. If they were told to transport you, they had to transport you. Your grievance should be with the police department idiot.
Think again about the wisdom of placing this thing on the Internet. It will haunt you for a long long time. Dingus.