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Thai hospital refuses care for Kiwi man

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Thai hospital refuses care for Kiwi man

3News NZ

Sean Kenzie has been in a Phuket hospital since the accident

Sean Kenzie has been in a Phuket hospital since the accident

Staff at a Thai hospital are refusing to perform surgery on a New Zealand man because he can't pay the bill for previous operations, according to his family.

Sean Kenzie, 27, was seriously injured when he was knocked off his moped last week and has been in a Phuket hospital since.

Both of his lungs were punctured and collapsed, his kidney was ruptured and he broke a number of bones including his jaw, his mother Nadine Mouritsen told Fairfax.

He is now conscious but his family say he needs surgery that hospital staff are refusing to carry out until a $16,000 hospital bill is paid.

Ms Mouritsen says family and friends are trying frantically to raise the money.

Mr Kenzie has travel insurance through Covermore but after the accident he was told this did not extend to riding scooters or mopeds.

Ms Mouritsen said care at the hospital had been largely okay, but there were one or two incidents which were worrying.

"There was an instance where he wasn't getting any of the medication he needs, and that was when we called Foreign Affairs and they must have helped because that night he was given his medication."

NZN

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Comments

24/07/2012 10:15:57 a.m.

Tom wrote:

We need a bit of that here. The number of tourists and illegals who use our system and don't pay is huge. Get tough, threaten to kick them out, you won't Thailand public dipping in their pockets to help.

15/07/2012 10:47:15 a.m.

Brenda wrote:

I buy travel insurance all the time & know that it doesn't cover extreme sports such as hang gliding or even diving, but I may not have thought about scooters. This is an awful situation, & he has done the sensible thing in taking out insurance, which so many travellers don't bother with. How can we help, even with small donations? I am finding it hard to get more info & updates. Anyone know?

14/07/2012 7:09:27 p.m.

bob wrote:

It isn’t good that it happened but the lesson here is, ‘read the policy before you travel.’
Most travel insurance policies have some condition regarding riding motor bikes. Extreme sports aren’t covered either

14/07/2012 6:16:05 p.m.

Warren wrote:

While I sympathise with Mr Kenzie ; I think this story should be better investigated. e.g. Was he wearing a helmut, did he have a Thai drivers license, was he under the influence of alcohol etc ?
Sadly people get hurt/injured all around the world. In Thailand, there are probably 5 or 6 deaths a day from motorcycle accidents - Not everyone can be bailed out -
Also, not all hospitals are that expensive ; My daughter was born in a Thai hospital ; great care and attention - the charge for 3 days, around $100 NZ. Sure there may have been the odd ant on the wall, but they are everywhere in Thailand ; by and large the staff are well trained and very attentative even at more standard/ cheaper Thai hospitals.

14/07/2012 6:11:08 p.m.

Matt Picken wrote:

Come on NZ....we need to get this guy home....imagine if he was your son? We were just planing a trip to Thailand...now bugger that....this would be putting a lot of people of going to Thailand!!! If everyone puts in a few dollars...all sorted.

14/07/2012 4:08:51 p.m.

Glenn wrote:

What do people expect? With an expat population approaching 550,000 in Thailand plus huge tourism numbers - 18 million nationwide and Phuket alone had over 4 million tourists in 2011 via the airport, many more on land. Thai govt cannot be expected to provide free medical care for all/any. The hazards of motorcycling here are so well publicised and onus has to be on the person taking out insurance to cover all eventualities. Don't blame the Thais.

14/07/2012 3:55:00 p.m.

jo wrote:

Thank you TV3 for your on-going support with this terrrible situation. I love that you and only you have continued to follow up and report on what's happen to Sean. We are all worried sick about him, feel helpless and just knowing that you are telling the country gives us some hope.