Harley-Davidson biker with no medical insurance who begged paramedics not to take him to hospital left facing $40,000 bill

A biker with no medical insurance faces more than $40,000 in bills after he was injured in a crash and then rushed to hospital against his wishes.

Terry Barth was thrown from his Harley on a winding road in Plumas County, California, suffering a head injury and broken bones around his eye.

But though he declined treatment when paramedics arrived, he was loaded into a vehicle and sped to hospital - before being flown by air ambulance to the nearest trauma centre.

Terry Barth had no medical insurance but faces more than $40,000 in bills after he was injured in a crash and then rushed to hospital against his wishes

Against his doctor’s orders, Mr Barth turned around and went home.

He later claimed he felt ‘kidnapped’ by those treating him and was slapped with bills totalling more than $40,000 for the care he claims he never wanted.

He flew from his bike on a cool summer’s day in August when the road took an unexpected turn.

A short time later, paramedics arrived by his side.

‘I said I told you I can’t go, I don’t have insurance,’ he said.

But they insisted on taking him to hospital.

‘I was still yelling the words in the ambulance, I can’t go. I told you I can’t go,’ he added.

On arrival at the centre in Quincy, he was bundled into an air ambulance to Enloe Medical Center in Chico -  the closest trauma centre.

Mr Barth suffered a head injury and broken bones around his eye when he was thrown from his Harley on a winding road in Plumas County, California

‘I was kidnapped, I felt,’ he said. ‘I just know if they had listened to me, I wouldn’t have a bill.’

He now believes he should not be forced to meet the expense.

Sacramento Fire Paramedic Jonathan Burgess said emergency crews were not obliged to listen when a patient declines treatment.

They are permitted to make a decision for themselves if the person is intoxicated or having a diabetic emergency. Failure to do so could mean they are later held liable.

The biker walked out of hospital against his doctor's orders. He feels he should not be made to pay his medical bills but is now considering taking out insurance

‘Your license is at jeopardy for patient abandonment if you show up to a person in need of care and you don’t take them to the hospital,’ he said.

Mr Barth, from Loomis, California, said he did not have insurance because he does not like going to the doctor.

He has now joined a community service program for uninsured patients to help reduce his bills and is considering taking out insurance.