What to do if a hospital took me in while I was intoxicated and is nowcharging me over $800?
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What to do if a hospital took me in while I was intoxicated and is nowcharging me over $800?
They got me to sign the consent form after I left but I was still not feeling well and wasn’t in a right state of mind so I wasn’t even sure of what I was signing at the time. Can I sue them or at least get them to drop the bill?
Asked on May 20, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, Maryland
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, you can probably be held liable for the bill, unless your intoxication was fully involuntary (e.g. someone drugged you without your knowledge or consent). The law does not recognized voluntary intoxication--e.g. getting drunk--as grounds to escape legal or contractual obligations; the fact that you chose to get drunk is seem as providing justification for holding you liable for your acts while drunk (you chose to get drunk, so you accepted the consequences thereof).
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