Safety May Overshadow the Medical Value of Foreign Travel

Bangkok Explosions Add to Dangers of Medical Tourism

Eight explosions set a grim tone for New Year’s Eve in Bangkok this year.  Consequently, the governments of Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom have since issued warnings to their respective citizens to reconsider travel to Bangkok; including those medical tourists seeking affordable health care.  The bombings sent clear reminders that everything has a cost.  In light of the bombings, patients seeking medical procedures at lower costs than “at home” must reconsider the value of their travel.  Safety, for these patients has added terrorist threats to the dangers of medical tourism:  malpractice, uncertain living conditions, follow-up care, and traveling great distances post-operation.  Obviously when any medical procedure is performed, regardless of the doctor, hospital equipment, or the procedure’s “routine” nature, risks are involved.  There’s risk of a misstep, incorrect diagnosis, or any number of complications.  Those are the foreseeable risks doctors and patients can plan for or around.  The bombings in Bangkok last December brought new dangers to the pursuit of affordable health care. 

Affordable Health Care:  Worth the Risk?

Although many hotels and resorts still held their own celebrations despite the explosions, the very real threat served as an awakening to all.  Seven tourists were hospitalized.  Imagine medical patients seeking value deals through affordable health care only to end up in the hospital for a different reason.  The risk of such travel has grown.  In the end, patients may be forced to assess the medical value of foreign travel by answering the question:  Is saving your life worth risking it?  Patients may be faced with a peculiar catch 22 concerning the dangers of medical tourism; deciding whether or not the medical value of affordable health care is worth their lives.  Travel to save their lives could cost it. 

Source:  Vicky Karantzavelou, “Bangkok Bombings Last Update By Tourism Authority of Thailand,” Travel Daily News, January 2, 2007