schrink

How can one get from Bangkok to New York if he is extremely ill and has no money? Family can pay for his way back to the States, but it may be necessary to use aircraft with medical support (possibly like an ambulance). Has anyone had experience with this type of situation?

Kathie

Does he have med evac insurance? Is there a reason he has to get back to the US rather than being treated in Bangkok? Also, consider getting him medically stabilized in Bangkok, which has excellent medical facilities.

If he needs medical aircraft, the cost of the evacuation will be in the $50,000 range (at least). If he only needs a medical attendant with him, he would need two seats, likely biz or first so he can lie flat. If he is medically cleared to fly commercial aircraft, his family can buy the tickets for him to pick up in Bangkok.

Kathie

Here is the website for an air ambulance service: www.airaasi.com There are others as well. Just google medical evacuation and the starting and ending cities.

If he has med evac insurance, he must contact the insurer to arrange medical evacuation.

You or he can also contact the American Embassy for informational assistance. They will not arrange or pay for the medical evacuation.

Jaya

Extremely ill AND broke is a bad combination (even if you're already in the US). Is this person alone in Bangkok? If the family can pay his way back, can they fund his care if he stays in Bangkok?

Given the implied gravity of this person's condition, I agree with Kathie to get this person stabilized in a Bangkok hospital.

Contact the US Embassy in Thailand for suggestions in coordinating a medical evacuation and also contact the hospital in New York that would be receiving him. It may take working the phones, but someone at one of the large hospitals in NY must know how this works.

schrink

Thanks, that's a start. No medevac insurance; he's been living in BKK for several years, and is not a tourist. The reason for coming home is because he is, very likely, terminal.

Kathie

The question will be how much medical attention he'll need on the way home. People who are terminally ill do fly with no accompanying medical personnel, if they do not need medical support on the flight. For instance, a dear friend of mine who was terminally ill with breast cancer made a last trip to London with friends. She did ok on the trip, but was getting weaker on the flight home. While she did not need medical support on the flight, her friends arranged for an ambulance to meet her at the airport and take her directly to the hospital. She died a week later.

So being terminally ill does not preclude your friend from making a commercial flight. It really depends on what kind (if any) of medical support he needs for the long flight.

Jaya

This is a tough situation because there's an emotional component that goes beyond the typical tourist question.

These are ideas to consider:
1) family/significant others go to BKK for whatever time they can to set him up with services to make sure he gets basic care if he's become weak,
2) search web and/or call Thai Embassy in NY for terminal/hospice services in BKK.
3) since he has been there for many years, does he have any suggestions for where he can receive charitable, free care?
4) search web for US medical organizations that have a Thailand office that might help arrange for care.

If I think of anything else I'll post it. Let us know if you find a solution that we didn't know about.

childlife

This may be a long shot, yet it may be worth a try. Perhaps you can post your request with the specific needs on the following web site: http://nonrev.net/

This is the "NonRev Network" whose member's are airline employees, travel agents, etc. These are the people who travel free -- usually because they are an employee or family member of someone in the airline industry.

Click on the COMMUNITY tab and post your request on that forum. You may also copy the e-mail to: [email protected].

Good luck.

schrink

Thanks, everyone!