Does someone need permission to save your life?

in 2006 I tried to kill myself, I was homeless, jobless, and without family. I was taken to the hospital by someone who had found me in cardiac arrest and almost complete organ failure.
I did NOT want to be resuscitated.
The hospital did so anyways, now almost three years later they want to charge me $22,000 for my treatment and stay in ICU. I still don't have a home, money, or family. Obviously this is a friends computer and email account.
I don't believe I should be charged for services I never asked for, had it been my way I would have never gone to the hospital.

How do they have permission to perform life saving medical maneuvers to save a life without verbal or written consent? Especially with purposeful self inflicted illness where they know you meant not to be helped? And how can they ethically charge me money for that? What obligation do I have toward this bill?
Additional Details
I was unconsious at the hospital the durration of my stay (I was eventually transferred)....so I did not have a chance to tell the first hospital not to save me

And for the guy who called me the biggest loser for not actually killing myself. I did in fact flat line, so technically, I did die.

Laila.

I learned about this. I think you have to be concious for them o have permission. Its different if you were on the ground trying to breath and they didnt ask you. When you were in the hospital you should have told them to let you be discharged or you could have asked to sign a DNR (do not resuscitate). Im not sure what you can do now.

OwlStorm

If you were unconscious, or if it was obvious this was self-inflicted, no-one needs your consent to treat you. The person who got you to the hospital did not need your permission, and depending on the laws in your state, may have been legally obligated to do so. It's called "implied consent". Once you were at the hospital, they did not need your consent to treat you or keep you. Since you harmed yourself, you automatically gave up those rights in the eyes of the law, because you were not considered to be of "sound mind" at that point. If you had demanded to leave, the hospital staff would have been obligated by law to hold you against your will until it was determined that you were no longer a threat to yourself or anyone else. This could have involved a transfer to a psychiatric unit once you were medically stable. You do owe the bill- but if, if you are jobless and have no money, I wouldn't worry about it. They can't send you to jail or garnish your non-existent paycheck- all they can do is harass you. Ignore it.

Chris C.

Yes..anyone who finds you motionless and unable to speak is automatically protected by law for attempting to save you. It's called the Good Samaritan Law.

know-it-all

I'm confused. Aren't we always hearing stories about people who are refused treatment if they're not insured?

Anyway, what do you have to worry about?

If you have nothing to take, what can they take?

Are you afraid of being put in jail?

Maybe you could make a deal with a judge to pay the bill if you are given a proper job allowing you to earn the money?
That is, if you've decided to live this time 'round.

Artman

I don't buy your story; No home, no family? Then how and where did the hospital send you the bill?

If you were really homeless you would have nothing to worry, there would be no way for them to find you. And even if they could find you there are laws that protect (real) indigent people against collectors.

As for the good samaritan and hospitals: by law they have to presume you want to live. And yes they can charge you, but it's up to you to prove you can't pay.

gabriel

I don't think a note would have helped, I won't tell you how to do what you wanted to do but instead, if your life is so bad, why don't you start your own business on helping people that is going thru the same thing, call me if you want more advice.

hellaeric09

You should have worn something that said DNR (do not resuscitate).

angels_harp_2000

Most cities/states protect the people who save you under "Good Samaritan Laws".

They are free to help, and if they injure you in the process (like cracking ribs while doing CPR) you can't hold them legally responsible.

Unless you are the world BIGGEST LOSER..... no one "tries" to kill themselves. How do you screw something like that up? If you made the decision to "do it".... then DO IT. Why are you still here moaning about it?

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