It also declares that the passenger’s own health insurance would not apply to medical services received on board, making such charges ineligible for reimbursement from their insurance.
The ticket contract strongly recommends passengers to purchase travel insurance to offset potential medical costs. The Bristols had followed this recommendation and procured travel insurance before embarking.
Tom Scolaro, an attorney from Miami-based law firm Leesfield Scolaro, who has handled several medical lawsuits against cruise lines, shed light on the inadequacy of medical care on cruises.
He mentioned that the physicians on board are often not educated and trained in the US and lack board certification in their fields.
The resources available on cruise ships are limited, and passengers are at the mercy of the ship’s decision regarding medical evacuation to a shore-side hospital.
Scolaro highlighted the challenge faced in determining what medical measures cruise staff are equipped to perform on board and when immediate ship evacuation for treatment at a shore-side hospital becomes necessary, a pivotal factor in these cases.
Source: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/jul/30/heart-attack-aboard-carnival-cruise-raises-questio/
