British woman’s hospital ordeal in Malaga, Spain

A BRITISH woman who had to have a leg amputated was shocked when €800 was demanded to dispose of it.

When Yvonne Avenell, 64, from Alora, signed the consent forms for the amputation at Malaga University Hospital, she thought that would be the last she would hear of the limb.

She was suffering from diabetic foot and doctors said amputation was the only way to prevent infection from spreading.

All went well, but a week into her recovery in the hospital, a member of staff told her that she would have to contact a funeral parlour to dispose of the limb.

Shocked, and unaware of how to proceed, she awaited further advice. However, in the meantime, the hospital contacted the duty funeral parlour who told her she would have to pay €800 for the service.

She refused to sign a consent form and sought advice, as well as speaking to hospital staff and a funeral parlour representative with the help of an interpreter.

She has since been informed that this is the normal procedure, but that prices for the service can greatly vary. This was also confirmed by EWN.

But after she raised concerns with hospital management about the process, health bosses have apologised to her and have decided to arrange for the disposal of the limb, free of charge.

And they have promised Yvonne that in future patients will be given better information about the procedures in a letter explaining the laws which apply in such a case.

Yvonne said: “I just wanted to warn people about what will happen to them in such a situation. To have a leg amputated and then be faced with a funeral director wanting payment for the limb’s disposal came as a real shock.

“But it is good news that the hospital has listened and is going to let people know about the procedures properly rather than just be informed by a member of staff out of the blue.”