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Am I responsible for my father's hospital bill if I signed the Authorized consenter section?

Am I responsible for my father's hospital bill if I signed the Authorized consenter section?

Q: Can hospitals hold me liable for my dad's medical bills?

Hospitals generally cannot hold you liable for your dad's medical bills just because you signed a consent form for treatment. Financial responsibility usually requires a specific agreement stating that you will pay for the patient's bills. If you did not sign such an agreement, you are not automatically responsible.

Q: What if my dad can't pay his hospital bills?

If your dad cannot pay his hospital bills, the hospital may pursue payment from him directly. They might also explore options such as financial assistance programs. As long as you did not agree to be financially responsible, you should not be liable for his debts.

Q: Do I need to sign anything else to be responsible for my dad's medical bills?

Yes, to be financially responsible for someone else's medical bills, you typically need to sign a specific financial responsibility form. This form should clearly outline your obligation to pay. If you only signed a consent for treatment, you are not liable for the costs.

Full question:

My Dad is admitted to hospital last week. Since he was in serious condition, they took my signature in the Authorized consenter section. Patient is unable to consent because: Pt. med condition. I therefore consent for the patient. Now my question is, am I financially responsible for his hospital stay if he is unable to pay for the bills? Can they make me liable because I signed that form? I did not sign any other document or gave my information like social security number or etc.

Category: Debts and Credit
Date: 04/07/2025
State: National

Answer:

Adult patients will be financially responsible for their own bill, unless another adult signs the financial responsibility consent form. In order for a consent form to assign financial responsibility for treatment, it should contain language regarding financial responsibility.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

What happens if I sign a consent form for my dad's medical treatment?

Signing a consent form for medical treatment does not automatically make you financially responsible for the bills. Typically, adult patients are responsible for their own medical expenses unless a specific financial responsibility clause is included in the consent form. If you did not sign a separate financial responsibility document, you are likely not liable for the costs.