Friday, July 11, 2008

The Downside of Medical Tourism--and Some Remedies

The Washington Post reports on the potential disadvantages of medical tourism. When things go badly after an overseas operation, a patient may be left facing a host of challenges: lack of access to follow-up care at home; doctors who won't get involved in corrective procedures; extra money that must be spent to undo what has been done; and a complicated legal picture if they want to try to recoup costs.

"Aftercare is one of the most important issues and problems in medical tourism," said Jonathan Edelheit, president of the Medical Tourism Association. Edelheit said that his organization is trying to educate U.S. doctors so that they will not discriminate against patients who are coming home from surgeries abroad and may be in need of care.. The trade group is also trying to raise standards and increase transparency in the now wide-open and unregulated field.