The Gulf Times reports today on a parent’s anger after their son was denied emergency care at Hamad because the 13-year-old boy didn’t have any ID with him.

The paper quotes the parent as saying that he’d made frantic efforts to get his son treated after offering his own ID and promised to provide his son’s ID later on. His son had been rushed to Hamad’s emergency department directly from school, and didn’t bring his ID with him.

Responding to the complaint, HMC Chairman Peter Cameron told the paper:

“The issue of patients’ failure to identify themselves when they come here for urgent care is causing us a lot of trouble. Despite that this is the practice all over the world…and not just in Qatar, presenting a photo ID is equally important for healthcare providers to know the medical history of the patients, especially to check medication allergies and so on.”

Emergency medical care at Hamad is available to all of those in need, be they nationals, expats or visitors, providing they or their next of kin can present an ID card at the registration desk. This can be a  health card, residence permit, driving licence or passport.

Cameron does, however, say that there are exceptional cases where ID is not immediately required.

“If we have a very unconscious patient rushed to the emergency room by the ambulance and he has no next of kin who can identify him at that moment, we will proceed to treat him immediately.”

He adds, however, that ID will be required as soon as possible after the patient has been admitted.

What do you think of the system?

Credit: Photo by Shabina S. Khatri