Court Opinion

ID: 9844463
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:03:16.409698+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:15:35.625688
License: Public Domain

McFADDEN, Justice,
with whom DONALDSON, Justice, joins, concurring specially.
I concur in the conclusion of the majority opinion, but wish to express my views regarding certain provisions of Chapter 34 of Title 31, Idaho Code.1
*438I.C. §§ 31-3404 to 31-3408 inclusive provide for the furnishing of help by a county to indigent sick persons and establish the procedure for obtaining such help. Those provisions contemplate that any ill person may make a written application for help to a magistrate (formerly probate judge or justice of the peace) or the clerk of the board of county commissioners, which application must declare his indigency and destitution and a listing of his property. I.C. § 31-3104. In the event the sick and indigent person desiring assistance is unable from illness to make the application, this may be made on his behalf by any other person. I.C. § 31-3408.
Upon receipt of such an application the officer must investigate into the applicant’s resources and if such officer “is fully satisfied that said applicant is really sick, indigent and in destitute circumstances, and would suffer unless aided by the county” such officer must so certify and file his certificate with the clerk of the board of county commissioners. I.C. § 31-3405. The board of county commissioners then must consider the certificate and “if in their judgment the applicant is sick and indigent, and would suffer if not aided by the county, make such provisions for his relief as may be necessary under the circumstances.” I.C. § 31-3406. The statute also provides that if the board of county commissioners is not in regular session, the officer may in his discretion authorize the applicant to be placed in the county hospital, or if there is no hospital then the officer may authorize an expenditure of not to exceed $40.00. I.C. § 31-3405. And a member of the board of county commissioners, if the board is not in session, may authorize such expenditure of up to $50.00. I.C. § 31-3407.
The statute also provides that the board of county commissioners shall not allow any claim against the county for services rendered a sick or indigent person who has not previously obtained a certificate. I.C. § 31-3407. An exception is provided, however, in the case of an emergency.
“ * * * a claim against the county shall be allowed for services rendered prior to obtaining the certificate heretofore mentioned where a licensed hospital renders the services to an indigent sick person in an emergency and subsequently there is obtained said certificate heretofore mentioned.” I.C. § 31-3407.
The foregoing contemplates that in an emergency situation a licensed hospital may render aid to a person, but in my opinion such aid may not be continued beyond the “emergency” period until a certificate is obtained. It is my further opinion that once a certificate is obtained, the statutes contemplate that such certificate shall be first submitted to the board of county commissioners for them to approve or disapprove further treatment beyond the immediate emergency needs. This conclusion is reached because of the following provisions of I.C. § 31-3407.
“Services rendered in an emergency are defined as those reasonably necessary to alleviate illness or injury which if untreated is apt to maim or cause death. Such services shall be paid for by the county of residence of the indigent sick and, if not a resident of Idaho, by the county where the indigent sick became ill or was injured. Bills for such expenditures, duly verified under oath, must be presented to said board and the board must audit and pay such bills out of the proper fund of such county, at their next regular meeting.”
In summary, as I read these statutory provisions, in an ordinary case, an ill or injured indigent person in order to obtain help from the county must first file an application, declaring his indigency and listing his assets. The application may be submitted to a magistrate, or the clerk of the board of county commissioners. Such officer must then investigate the applica*439tion, and if he approves the application, it is to be submitted to the clerk of the board of county commissioners, which board if in session, shall then authorize or reject the application. If the board is not in session, the officer, or a member of the board of county commissioners may authorize a limited expenditure. Thereafter, if the help is to continue beyond a limited expenditure, it is my opinion that such application must be approved by the board of county commissioners.
In an emergency situation a licensed hospital may give the necessary emergency treatment to the person, but such treatment shall not continue beyond the time reasonably necessary to alleviate the immediate need. If the treatment is to continue beyond that time, then before any liability may be incurred against the county, it is necessary that the certificate be submitted, investigated, submitted to the board of county commissioners, and either approved or rejected by them.
In the instant case the hospital failed to take the steps requisite before an obliga-, tion could arise against the county after the immediate emergency had been alleviated. Thus no liability was incurred by the county.

. The basis of Chapter 34, Title 31, Idaho Code, is to be found in legislation enacted during the territorial days of this state which made provision for the care of indigent sick people. 13th Session Territorial Legislature, 1885, p. 127. The 1885 legislation is the same, except for some minor amendments, as I.O. §§ 31-3404, 31-3405; K.S. 1887, §§ 2173, 2174, 2175, pp. 282-283; S.L. 1911, Ch. 155, § 1, p. 475.