A woman in Madrid, Pilar M., tragically passed away after suffering a stroke in her home. Following her death, her family was shocked to receive a bill for over 8,000 euros from the hospital where she was briefly admitted before her passing. The hospital insisted that the costs must be covered by the deceased patient, despite the circumstances surrounding her stay.
Pilar, a former Treasury inspector who belonged to the Muface healthcare program, was rushed to La Princesa hospital after her stroke. Despite her family’s objections and warnings that Muface did not cover services at this hospital, she was still transferred there. Medical professionals at the hospital then informed the family that Pilar was not going to survive, but suggested that she could be an organ donor.
After accepting the idea of organ donation, the family was led to believe that Pilar would be declared brain dead within 48 hours. However, when this did not occur, the family was informed that she was not a suitable candidate for organ donation. They then made the difficult decision to disconnect the life support.
Following her death, the family was shocked to receive a bill from the hospital for Pilar’s stay. The hospital demanded payment from the deceased patient’s estate, claiming that the Madrid Health Service was not responsible for the costs. The family expressed disbelief and anger over the situation, as they believed the extended hospital stay was only due to the potential organ donation.
Now, two years later, the family continues to receive letters from the hospital demanding payment for Pilar’s stay. The hospital and Muface have been redirecting blame onto each other, with Muface stating that the claim must be made to Asisa, the insurer with which Pilar had coverage. The Health Department of the Community of Madrid has acknowledged that there was a misunderstanding in the communication of the bills and is reviewing the case. The hospital maintains that the administrative procedure was carried out correctly, but due to the unique circumstances of the case, they are now investigating the matter further.