Are hospitals allowed to detain a patient for an unpaid bill?

The newspaper El Comercio asked Martín Domínguez J., a professor at the law school of the Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, whether a hospital can detain a patient until the hospital bill is paid.

This inquiry was prompted by the death of a newborn baby in a Cuenca hospital last week. The incident unfolded as follows: A woman gave birth via C-section in a private hospital in Cuenca, a procedure that typically costs around $3,000. Due to complications, the hospital bill rose to $8,300. Unable to pay, the mother decided to transfer the baby to the local IESS hospital for further treatment. However, the private hospital refused to release the baby because the bill had not been paid. Tragically, the baby died while still in the private hospital, which then refused to release the baby's body.

According to Professor Domínguez, the hospital violated the right to freedom enshrined in Article 66 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador. Clause 29 of this article states that individuals cannot be imprisoned for failing to pay financial obligations such as debts or taxes, with the exception of alimony:

(...) 29. Los derechos de libertad también incluyen: (...) c) Que ninguna persona pueda ser privada de su libertad por deudas, costas, multas, tributos, ni otras obligaciones, excepto el caso de pensiones alimenticias. (...)

Furthermore, the professor pointed out that the violation of the baby's rights is exacerbated by the fact that the baby belongs to a priority care group, as specified in Article 35 of the Constitution. This article mandates that seniors, children, adolescents, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, people deprived of liberty, and those suffering from catastrophic or highly complex illnesses are to receive priority and specialized care in both public and private sectors:

Art. 35.- Las personas adultas mayores, niñas, niños y adolescentes, mujeres embarazadas, personas con discapacidad, personas privadas de libertad y quienes adolezcan de enfermedades catastróficas o de alta complejidad, recibirán atención prioritaria y especializada en los ámbitos público y privado. (...)

Additionally, Professor Domínguez asserted that detaining a person in a hospital could be classified as the crime of kidnapping for ransom, as defined in Article 162 of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP): 

Art. 161.- Secuestro.- La persona que prive de la libertad, retenga, oculte, arrebate o traslade a lugar distinto a una o más personas, en contra de su voluntad, será sancionada con pena privativa de libertad de cinco a siete años.

Art. 162.- Secuestro extorsivo.- Si la persona que ejecuta la conducta sancionada en el artículo 161 de este Código tiene como propósito cometer otra infracción u obtener de la o las víctimas o de terceras personas dinero, bienes, títulos, documentos, beneficios, acciones u omisiones que produzcan efectos jurídicos o que alteren de cualquier manera sus derechos a cambio de su libertad, será sancionada con pena privativa de libertad de diez a trece años. (...)

Conclusion

In Ecuador, you have the right to leave a hospital even if you haven't paid your bill. If a hospital refuses to let you go, call the police at 911 to secure your release. If you are detained, report the crime of kidnapping to the public prosecutor.