Family of illegal immigrant sues Florida Hospital for deporting patient to Native country

The family of an illegal immigrant is suing Martin Memorial Hospital in South Florida. They accuse the hospital of deporting 37 year old Luis Alberto Jimenez, back to his native Guatemala because he couldn't pay his hospital bills.

Jimenez's family contends that back in 2003, the hospital repatriated the brain-dead illegal, back to Guatemala, unknowingly to them, after he racked up more than 2 million dollars in medical bills. The hospital, they argue, should have provided long-term rehab care to him, because no other rehab clinic would take him without insurance. Relatives say he won't be able to get sufficient care in Guatemala.

The hospital lawyers say that Jimenez wanted to return to his country.

Jimenez was the was struck by a drunk driver in 2000, which left him wheelchair-bound.

Boy this is one complexe case. On one hand I feel badly for the disabled gentleman because he as a human being just like me or you & should get care, but at what cost???!!!! It is situations like this that are causing hospitals to go broke. Which could mean that even me: the law abiding, tax paying, citizen would not have access to health care. Ahhhhh!! Why should this illegal not have to pay for care when other hard working American families have to pay for the care of their loved ones due to not meeting income requirements etc.??!! Being an illegal , but as an illegal that's the chance that you take, you are not entitled to the rights of that country. Its been six years already since his return, surely the country of Guatemala, as inept as their health care system may be, can provide the quality of care needed to maintain his quality of life. And what if the accident happened in his hometown? Surely his medical care would have sufficed then. These type of cases are getting more and more bizarre and complex. I guess we'll have to wait for the outcome of the case...stay tuned.