Uninsured stroke patient sues Maine Med over alleged denial of emergency care
A hospital in Maine has been accused of discharging an emergency patient who was suffering a stroke after officials learned he did not have insurance.
In a federal lawsuit, Maine Medical Center is said to have violated state and federal regulations that mandate facilities provide life-saving care to all people, regardless of their ability to pay.
The plaintiff, Edwin George Duffus, a 65-year-old citizen of Jamaica, claims he suffered a stroke and was flown by emergency air transport to Maine Med, only to be denied care. The alleged incident happened in 2022, while Duffus was in the state.
He initially arrived at MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital, but was flown to Maine Med in Portland for better treatment due to the severity of his symptoms. While Maine Med initially admitted Duffus, he claims he was discharged once it was revealed he lacked valid health insurance.
He was sent back home to Jamaica, where his condition worsened due to the limited treatment he received, the lawsuit contends.
Duffus filed his claim in July 2024. The hospital, which said it cannot comment on pending litigation, filed a motion to have it dismissed. However, last week, a judge ruled that the case can move forward, and it is now expected to go to trial.
Duffus claims he was unaware, and was not informed of, his right to receive emergency care, and thus did not protest his discharge at the time.
He is seeking unspecified damages and a ruling requiring the hospital to comply with the law. The lawsuit is being contested in a U.S. District Court in Maine.
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