Tourist accuses Quebec of 'abysmal' treatment after wife's surgery cancelled over fee dispute

MichaelBeattiesays hehadalways considered Canada's healthcare system a model to follow.

The Florida man says he no longer feels that way, after an operation at Quebec City's Centre hospitalier de l'UniversitLaval(CHUL) to remove his wife's inflamed gallbladder was cancelled at the last minute by doctors who haddemanded to be paid in advance.

Beattie and hiswife, 62-year-oldPatricia Goldman,had been visiting Quebec City last June when Goldman began having severe stomach pains. Shewas admitted to theCHULonJune 30 and scheduled for surgery the following day.

Beattie said his wife had already been wheeled into the operating room when he received a call from the anesthesiologist, demanding that he and the surgeon be paid $3,300 up front for their work.

"His exact words to me were, 'You have to come to the operating room to bring a credit card, or else we won't operate,' which I found to be grotesque," Beattietold CBC News.

• Role of Quebec paramedics questioned in wake of snowmobiler's death

Beattiesaid he was outside the hospitalwalking the couple's dog when he received the anesthesiologist'scall.

He returnedand tried to figure out how to process the payment. Bythe time he found his wife, the operation had been called off, he said.

Widespread policy, hospital says

CHUL spokeswomanGenevive Dupuisconfirmed that Goldman's surgery had beencancelled.

In Quebec, doctors' fees are charged separately from what the hospital collects for tests, medicine and room fees, she said.

Hospital policy dictates thatdoctors have the right to demand payment before treating a patient who isn't from Quebec, she said.

"If there is no medical emergency, every patient has to pay for medical fees in a foreign country,"she said.

Dupuis said doctors determined Goldman's inflamed gallbladder was not a medical emergency.

Surgery done in Vermont

Dupuis saida payment agreement was finally worked out, and the operation was rescheduled for the next day.

My wife doesn't ever want to go back to Quebec. She was truly freaked out by this.- Michael Beattie, visiting tourist from Florida

By then, however,the attending doctor assessed the inflammation had gone down, and the hospital optedto continue administering antibiotic treatment.

"When we can avoid surgery, it's great news, because there is a certain risk to any type of surgery," Dupuis said.

Beattieacknowledged thatthe CHULhadoffered antibiotic treatment, buthe said the hospital staffalso suggested Goldman fly back to Floridato undergo surgerybecauseshe wouldhave a support network there.

"I thought that was unrealistic, given the amount of pain she was in," he said.

The couple ended up leaving the CHUL, discharged against medical advice.

They crossed the U.S. border andGoldman was admitted to theUniversity of Vermont Medical Center, where she underwent surgery the next day and was dismissed the following morning.

Where do private insurers come in?

When asked why the doctors couldn't come to an arrangement directly with the insurance company, the CHULsaid Goldman's policy didn't allow it.

"Inthis case, as withmany insurance companies in the United States, the patients pay first, and the companies reimburse them," saidDupuis.

To have this treatment in Quebec was abysmal.- Michael Beattie

Beattiesaid that's not the case.

"Do you really think people in the U.S. could pay $100,000 for an operation and then wait to be reimbursed?" he asked. "Maybe Trump and Clinton can, but I sure can't."

In September, a collection agency representing theCHULsent the couple an $8,300 bill forthethree-day hospital stay.

Beattiesent CBC Newsan invoiceshowing his insurance companyhadissued a payment of $7,200.

The CHUL said the bill's payment is still pending.

The Florida couple said they haveno intention of suing the CHUL. However,Beattie said he is just disappointed because his wife has crossed Canada off their vacation list.

"To have this treatment in Quebec was abysmal. It saddened me on a social and political level."