Anyone get real sick on board the cruise ship and have to go to a hospital?

[librarygal]

If you read my previous posts about our cruise from hell in January, you may remember that both of us were sick during the majority of the time and did not have a good time.

 

But Mr. Library Gal got very sick about a month after we got home from the cruise.  He had a sudden pulmonary embolism and only lived because he made it to one of the best hospitals in America in a timely manner and they were able to diagnose his health issues quickly and provide quick treatment.  We are always talking about what if this would have happened while we were on the cruise.  Would the medical staff have the skills and equipment to stabilize a very sick patient in time?  What about the hospitals in the Caribean Ports of Call?

 

This is an honest sincere question.  What experiences do you have regarding getting very sick on a cruise ship traveling from one Caribean Island to another?  Would you have peace of mind cruising if you had some type of chronic condition that may involve hospitalization at a moments notice?

 

Something like this would be my greatest fear:

 

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/cruise-passenger-medevacked-from-ship-denied-medical-service-by-hospital.html

Edited March 8, 2019 by librarygal

[Texas Tillie]

Yes, all of your threads are so "sincere". Getting the popcorn ready.

[Essiesmom]

Your ship would be able to stabilize you just as any emergency room would.  the rub comes in there not being a hospital attached, or in the next town...  If you read around these boards enough - and you have been a member long enough that all these threads are a testament to the fact that you are just bored - you will realize that they wouldn't treat him because they couldn't afford to do it free.  If they had had high enough limit credit cards to pay the bill, he could have been treated at the first hospital.  EM

Edited March 8, 2019 by Essiesmom

[jlp20]

29 minutes ago, librarygal said:

Would the medical staff have the skills and equipment to stabilize a very sick patient in time? 

Cruise ship medical departments are not emergency rooms. Anything more serious than a stomach virus or sprain could get you put ashore at the next port. Cruise ships don't want sick or injured on board since they are not a hospital. Once ashore your not their responsibility. Three weeks ago my wife saw a blurb in the news of some family from a Royal Caribbean ship being thrown off a ship due to chest pain. 

[mom says]

You seriously need to consider finding a hobby besides thinking up new ideas for new threads to post on here. And please search for existing similar threads first before inflicting new ones covering old territory.

 

- your husband was lucky to live near a hospital that either wasn't private or he had sufficient insurance to cover his care.

- no one with a chronic medical condition that might require immediate hospitalization should be cruising anywhere, unless they've first gotten their doctor's okey dokey. They roll the dice and take their chances.

 

- in the article you quoted, the man was refused further treatment at the first hospital because a.  it was a private hospital and b. he had insufficient funds to pay for his treatment. Moral of that story: Carry credit cards with a decent limit and have travel health insurance.

[mom says]

15 minutes ago, jlp20 said:

Three weeks ago my wife saw a blurb in the news of some family from a Royal Caribbean ship being thrown off a ship due to chest pain. 

 

I highly doubtful they were "thrown off the ship". Likely much more accurate to say the man was taken to the nearest medical facility and his family were given assistance to pack and leave the ship with him, at which point they would be given contact information for the port agent, who would be able to assist them.

[navybankerteacher]

1 hour ago, librarygal said:

 

 

...

Would you have peace of mind cruising if you had some type of chronic condition that may involve hospitalization at a moments notice?

...

If I had that sort of condition, I would probably not cruise.

 

  If you GENUINELY have that sort of condition,  why would you  ever let yourself be more than a “.... moments...” travel time away from your friendly neighborhood emergency room?

[jlp20]

Just now, mom says said:

 

I highly doubtful they were "thrown off the ship". Likely much more accurate to say the man was taken to the nearest medical facility ...

Negative information concerning the cruise industry seems to be deleted from this board. The best one was of a guy going to medical with chest pains the night before a port stop. Next morning there's a knock at the cabin door. Four security officers enter the cabin and the pax is told for medical reasons they're being put off the ship. Security packs their bags and 30 minutes later the couple are on the dock with their bags. Harbor master was informed and arranged ambulance to local hospital. Bottom line, no actual heart issue and pax had to get back to the states at their expense. 

If you read the cruise contract we all agree to, this is all spelled out. Why anyone takes a cruise without insurance is beyond me.

[jlp20]

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/royal-caribbean-passenger-claims-she-was-removed-from-cruise-because-of-internal-bleeding-the-doctor-said-he-would-kick-me-off

 

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/morris/2019/02/25/nj-couple-pays-thousands-get-home-after-being-forced-off-royal-caribbean-cruise/2669094002/

[lenquixote66]

Not me but a neighbor was on a ship and had a heart attack.He was taken by helicopter to a hospital in a caribbean island.They refused to treat him until his wife could give a substantial sum of money.She had money wired to her.

They are never going back to this island

[CruiserBruce]

3 hours ago, jlp20 said:

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/royal-caribbean-passenger-claims-she-was-removed-from-cruise-because-of-internal-bleeding-the-doctor-said-he-would-kick-me-off

 

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/morris/2019/02/25/nj-couple-pays-thousands-get-home-after-being-forced-off-royal-caribbean-cruise/2669094002/

So, as I understand this incident, the passenger refused to go to the hospital when the ship's doctor said they needed a higher level of care.  The cruise ship doesn't owe them a ride to the hospital of their choice. The ship can only provide certain levels of care. If they keep someone on they can't care for, the liability is HUGE.

 

But, the absolutely easiest job is to find an attorney who will sue anyone that appears to have deep pockets.

[Heidi13]

7 hours ago, librarygal said:

IWe are always talking about what if this would have happened while we were on the cruise.  Would the medical staff have the skills and equipment to stabilize a very sick patient in time?  What about the hospitals in the Caribean Ports of Call?

In our experience, the skills of the medical department vary by cruise line. On one of the mainstream lines that we cruised with once the doctor was a contracted resource (GP), who got a free cruise for providing service. However, the company I worked for, most doctors were specialised Emergency Physicians, Internists, etc.

 

Shortly after becoming an RN, my wife investigated joining me aboard the ships, working as an RN, but the minimum was 3 years experience, preferably in Emerg/ICU. Although working in a Neuro ICU, she did not meet the minimum requirements for an RN position at sea.

 

While cruise ship medical centres may not be as well equipped as a big city major trauma centre, they most likely will be vastly superior to emergency rooms in the hospitals of comparable size towns. In addition to the onboard qualifications and skills, at least some cruise lines have specialists & surgeons available for consults by satellite link.

 

With respect to landing pax ashore. Again, can't speak for all cruise lines, but when I worked on ships and latterly as a pax, the primary reason for not hospitalising onboard, is not a lack of skills, but resources. They do not have sufficient resources, to maintain clinics and hospitalise patients, providing 24 hr care, for prolonged periods. Therefore, similar to shore based hospital emergency rooms, you are stabalised and shipped to a ward, which aboard ship is in a hospital ashore.

[jlp20]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

So, as I understand this incident, the passenger refused to go to the hospital when the ship's doctor said they needed a higher level of care.  The cruise ship doesn't owe them a ride to the hospital of their choice. The ship can only provide certain levels of care. If they keep someone on they can't care for, the liability is HUGE.

 

But, the absolutely easiest job is to find an attorney who will sue anyone that appears to have deep pockets.

In this particular event, doctor bothered to ask them to leave ship voluntarily. When she questioned this request, the doctor gave her the bottom line, you hesitate and I will kick you off. Not a question of questioning potential care for unknown injury or illness. To protect the "corporation" your put off the ship, which you already agreed to.

 

You want to sue, go ahead, plenty of lawyers waiting to take your retainer and then bill you by the hour. You will not find any willing to take case on a contingency basis, why? Because very few people have read the cruise contract, that you agreed to by setting foot on the ship.

 

Because this is what we use, here is a link for Princess

https://www.princess.com/legal/passage_contract/plc.html

 

Look at paragraph 4 lines 10-14. Now that we have your attention, bother to read the entire thing. Now that you have read the contract you agreed to, just what grounds would you have if put ashore?

Edited March 9, 2019 by jlp20
spellng

[jlp20]

4 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

cruise ship medical centres may not be as well equipped as a big city major trauma centre, they most likely will be vastly superior to emergency rooms in the hospitals of comparable size towns. In addition to the onboard qualifications and skills, at least some cruise lines have specialists & surgeons available for consults by satellite link

I doubt a town of 4000 would even have a hospital. While care and equipment on the ship may be an issue, that is not the subject. The bean counters at the corporate office have directed medical department not to be put into the position of responsibility. In short, get any potential patient off the ship ASAP.

[donaldsc]

7 hours ago, jlp20 said:

Cruise ship medical departments are not emergency rooms. Anything more serious than a stomach virus or sprain could get you put ashore at the next port. Cruise ships don't want sick or injured on board since they are not a hospital. Once ashore your not their responsibility. Three weeks ago my wife saw a blurb in the news of some family from a Royal Caribbean ship being thrown off a ship due to chest pain. 

 

Why are you YELLING?  Can you talk in a civil tone.  

8 hours ago, librarygal said:

If you read my previous posts about our cruise from hell in January, you may remember that both of us were sick during the majority of the time and did not have a good time.

 

But Mr. Library Gal got very sick about a month after we got home from the cruise.  He had a sudden pulmonary embolism and only lived because he made it to one of the best hospitals in America in a timely manner and they were able to diagnose his health issues quickly and provide quick treatment.  We are always talking about what if this would have happened while we were on the cruise.  Would the medical staff have the skills and equipment to stabilize a very sick patient in time?  What about the hospitals in the Caribean Ports of Call?

 

This is an honest sincere question.  What experiences do you have regarding getting very sick on a cruise ship traveling from one Caribean Island to another?  Would you have peace of mind cruising if you had some type of chronic condition that may involve hospitalization at a moments notice?

 

Something like this would be my greatest fear:

 

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/cruise-passenger-medevacked-from-ship-denied-medical-service-by-hospital.html

 

I doubt if you have a sincere bone in your body.

 

DON

[jlp20]

deleted

Edited March 9, 2019 by jlp20
no need

[Hlitner]

The OP specifies a "chronic condition" which is an entirely different decision issue then potential emergency care.  We would evaluate the chronic condition and discuss the question with our physician.  It would then become decision based on medical information/evaluation and not on personal fears or panic.  Bottom line is that we seniors take an enhanced risk every time we venture afar from good medical care and that is a risk accepted by nearly all frequent travelers.  

 

The type of care that can be delivered on most cruise ships is akin to what you would get in a relatively small hospital ER.  The capability of the onboard medical facility and staff is limited as is their ability to administer sophisticated tests that might be necessary to properly diagnose and/or stabilize a condition.    The ship's itinerary is also a big issue in such a decision.  Consider that on many cruises you are no further then a few hours or a day from a decent medical facility.  But if you are cruising between Northern Japan and Alaska (we were recently booked on such a cruise) you may have 5-7 days when you do not have access to a decent medical facility (or any facility except what is on the ship).  In those waters (and the waters of other areas of the Pacific) you would also be far out of range of any air evacuation.  

 

I should mention that we personally had an issue where DW was injured in Nha Trang, Vietnam.  We made a decision to NOT go to a local hospital but got her back to our ship (Golden Princess) where she was treated by the ship's capable physician.  A few days later, when her condition worsened,  we took DW from the ship to a major hospital in Osaka, Japan for a CT Scan and outpatient Surgery.  After a couple of more days on the ship, and with the recommendation of both the ship's physician and our insurance company we medically evacuated DW from Tokyo to the USA.   Bottom line was that the ship's physician was uncomfortable with treating DW's condition for the next several weeks (it was a long cruise) including places where medical evacuation would have been impossible.    A few months later we were back on another cruise (Transatlantic) with no fears about being in the middle of the Atlantic.  There is no right or wrong but simply a matter or your own risk tolerance and consultation with trusted medical professionals to help you make an informed decision.

 

Hank

[Underwatr]

17 hours ago, jlp20 said:

Harbor master was informed and arranged ambulance to local hospital. Bottom line, no actual heart issue and pax had to get back to the states at their expense. 

 

The passengers could have arranged to meet the ship at the next available port of call, since they apparently were medically qualified to travel after the brief hospital stay.

Trip interruption/cancellation insurance would have repaid their extra travel expense in either case.

[whogo]

My concern is that I would be debarked from a cruise ship that did not have the resources to care for me to a hospital that did not have the resources to care for me, wanted payment in advance, and did not have English speaking doctors to boot. In Japan, Singapore, Western Europe I would probably be fine. Mozambique? Haiti? Belize?

 

There is plenty of scary language in US Department of State website.

 

"U.S. citizens have lodged numerous complaints against some private hospitals in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, and Cabo San Lucas to include exorbitant prices and inflexible collection measures. Travelers should obtain complete information on billing, pricing, and proposed medical procedures before agreeing to any medical care in these locations. Be aware that some resorts have exclusive agreements with medical providers, which may limit your choices in seeking emergency medical attention."

 

Belize: "Emergency services will be either unavailable or significantly delayed. Serious injuries or illnesses normally require evacuation to another country."

 

"All health care providers require payment at the time of or before providing service. Most do not accept credit cards."

[Heidi13]

13 hours ago, jlp20 said:

I doubt a town of 4000 would even have a hospital. While care and equipment on the ship may be an issue, that is not the subject. The bean counters at the corporate office have directed medical department not to be put into the position of responsibility. In short, get any potential patient off the ship ASAP.

Again, while it is not necessarily true of all cruise lines, in my experience, with respect to the medical department not much has changed in over 40 years. Even in the 70's and 80's, we routinely sent passengers ashore that required hospitalisation, and that was long before "Bean Counters" ran the companies.

[taglovestocruise]

Makes me wonder about all the transatlantics we have been on.  A ship with a much older crowd and at times 4 days away from any port. 

[jocap]

We had an incident when someone had a severe problem, and we had 6 days to go from Madeira to Barbados. The captain took the ship up to 23 knots; the passenger was placed into a coma. An ambulance was waiting at Barbados, which we reached about 16 hours early. Everything was arranged on board, including messages to their children who flew out to the island.

[Texas Tillie]

2 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Makes me wonder about all the transatlantics we have been on.  A ship with a much older crowd and at times 4 days away from any port. 

 

That's why all cruise ships have a morgue; you didn't think they put the dearly departed in with the meat and veggies, did you?

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Makes me wonder about all the transatlantics we have been on.  A ship with a much older crowd and at times 4 days away from any port. 

It can get interesting.  We have been on many TAs and a few Pacific crossings where there have been medical emergencies.  On the TAs we have twice diverted to Bermuda for a quick stop.  In the Pacific we had a situation that fortunately was only 1 day out of San Diego.  The situation was so serious that it was decided to do an air evacuation but we were beyond the range of any helicopter.  The Navy Seal base at Coronado was able to send one of their special ops choppers along with a KC-130 tanker that refueled the chopper en route and also within site of the ship.  

 

But sometimes it can take days to evacuate and the ship's medical center must do its best.  There is also a morgue....just in case :(.  The inside joke on HAL's Prinsendam (a small ship that does some very long itineraries) was that the morgue only had room for 3... and any overflow would have to be stored in the Florist office...which was next door (this room was also kept cool). On a recent cruise from Port Everglades we actually had a passenger die during the muster drill...which delayed our departure a few hours.   

 

Hank

 

[CruisingAlong4Now]

Please please please don't encourage the OP in the ridiculous threads she starts. I'd like you thrown off the ship for your specious threads and annoying topics. 

 

if you look at her activity, you'll see that she starts threads of strange topics, and then never never adds useful comments to anyone else's threads. She just likes to poke the bear.  

Edited March 9, 2019 by CruisingAlong4Now