An Act of Mercy

There are, at times, a situation where a patient at the hospital has been discharged, but they are unable to pay the total bill.  When this occurs, the patient must remain at the hospital until the total amount has been paid (there are no collection agencies or other forms of making sure the bill is paid).  The patient is not part of hospital management in regard to medications and treatment. 

Recently there was a female patient with her one month old twins with her, who had been discharged for over a week, but has no money to pay her total bill which is about $100 or 62,000CFA.  

One day a male nurse, Gilbert, thought of an idea to help our patient which at the same time will help the twins’ health primarily. He suggested that the staff in our clinical ward contribute an amount on our comfort, with the total goal of 80,000CFA.  Most of us welcomed his idea and even the cardiac center administration contributed. Before I knew it the patient was able to go home with her twins.

With this, I have witnessed an act of mercy in our cardiac center.