Off-duty Edmonton doctor gets $250 ambulance bill after saving man's life with CPR
Dr. Ian Sutanto performed CPR during a basketball game in June; Alberta waived the bill and promised to review its ambulance fee policy.
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An off-duty Edmonton family physician was shocked to receive a $250 ambulance bill three weeks after performing CPR and helping save a man's life during a father-son basketball game.
Dr. Ian Sutanto was playing with his son on June 19 when one of the fathers went into cardiac arrest. Sutanto and another parent immediately started CPR and deployed an automated external defibrillator. When paramedics arrived and stabilized the patient, one checked on Sutanto, who was feeling winded and lightheaded after the exertion.
Sutanto said he assumed the paramedic's check was a courtesy. He wasn't aware that any assessment by paramedics — even a wellness check on a bystander — is classified as an emergency health service and triggers a bill under Alberta's policy.
According to Alberta Hospital and Surgical Health Services, patients transported to hospital face a $385 bill; those assessed but not transported get charged $250. When Sutanto pushed back on the invoice, AHSH waived it and committed to reviewing its ambulance fee policy.
Sutanto said Radio the incident has opened his eyes to how high ambulance costs might discourage people from calling for help when they need it most. He holds no ill-will toward the paramedic who assessed him, calling the worker "super nice." Ambulance fees vary significantly across Canada — Ontario charges a $45 flat fee, while some parts of Nunavut charge as much as $900.
