Patient suffers liver disorders after self-medication, told to pay medical bills in UAE

A patient, who suffered liver complications after consuming harmful food supplements without a doctor's prescription or medical necessity, has been ordered by court to pay his medical bills.
The Arab man had been accused by a private healthcare centre in Abu Dhabi of failing to pay more Dh16,312 for treatment after the health insurance company refused to clear his treatment bills.
The healthcare centre had filed a complaint against the patient at Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance demanding that he pays the treatment bill and all the legal costs.
The medical centre told prosecutors that the patient had refused to pay his medical bills claiming that he was covered by a medical insurance.
The man suffered from liver disorders and other internal problems as a result of consuming protein drugs and nutritional supplements on a weekly basis without medical necessity.
According to medics, the diseases that arise from the use of steroids or protein drugs and nutritional supplements on a weekly basis without prescriptions or medical necessity are not covered by most insurance policies, which require the patient to pay all the expenses of the treatment.
The medical centre noted that the patient's health insurance company had refused to cover the treatment claims related to this case. The firm had indicated that the illness was not covered by the health insurance. And when the healthcare centre management asked the patient to pay the costs of his treatment, the man refused without any justification, which prompted them to file a lawsuit against him.
In his ruling, the Court of First Instance judge ordered the patient to clear his medical bills, pay legal fees and other costs incurred by the hospital during the trial.
The court said the law stipulates that health insurance does not cover medical treatment services for diseases that arise from the use of stimulants or sedatives without a prescription, or due to the abuse of alcoholic, narcotic drugs or similar substances.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com 

• Abu Dhabi