Court Opinion

ID: 9623737
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:42:24.772262+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:34.377623
License: Public Domain

SHEPARD, Justice,
dissenting.
I see the result obtained by the majority as an anomoly. As stated by Bistline, J., in Idaho Falls Consol. Hosp. v. Bingham Cty. Bd., 102 Idaho 838, 642 P.2d 553 (1982):
“The remaining changes made clear the intent of the legislature to provide assistance for the ‘medically indigent,’ that is to say, for those who are made indigent by catastrophic medical bills, whether from illness or from injury, 'or other cause, such as premature birth. See University of Utah Hospital and Medical Center v. Bethke, 101 Idaho 245, 611 P.2d 1030 (1980).” (Emphasis supplied.)
Here the patient to whom the services were rendered is no longer indebted to the hospital, his debt having been discharged in bankruptcy. To suggest that one is medically indigent because of a hospital bill which he no longer owes makes no sense whatsoever. Although I recognize the hardship presented to the hospital as a result of having the party responsible for the bill declare bankruptcy, such harsh result is no different from that faced by every creditor in a bankruptcy proceeding.
I would further note the commission’s finding, which was based on substantial, competent evidence, to the effect that the plaintiff Carpenter was, at the time the hospital bill was incurred, capable of making payments to the hospital, and that Carpenter had made a personal choice to quit his gainful employment. Factual determinations of administrative agencies should be overturned by this Court only upon a showing of a clearly erroneous decision or of an abuse of discretion. I.C. § 67-5215(g)(6); Mason v. State, Dept. of Law Enforcement, 103 Idaho 748, 653 P.2d 803 (Idaho App.1982); Wagers v. Nichol, 94 Idaho 6, 479 P.2d 775 (1970). Therefore, I question whether Mr. Carpenter has shown indigency, even aside from the question of his bankruptcy.
I respectfully dissent.