BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — In a legal argument that may appear cold and callous, Boca Raton Regional Hospital is suing a former patient — saying it’s unfair for the patient to benefit from care if he’s not going to pay for that care. Unable to make the patient ill again, the hospital is instead suing him for more than $65,000. The medical care he received nearly four years ago, the hospital claims, was never fully paid off.
The hospital just filed the suit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court against Gilbert Kiriakos. According to the complaint shared with BocaNewsNow.com, Kiriakos signed a general consent for treatment agreeing to pay for his care, made some partial payments over time, but still owes $65,654.14. That balance has been accruing interest since March 25, 2022, the hospital says.
The hospital’s attorney, Timothy M. Hartley of Hartley Law Offices in Fort Lauderdale, is suing for breach of contract, debt, and unjust enrichment. The hospital argues Kiriakos benefited from the medical care it provided and it would be unfair for him to keep that benefit without paying for it in full. The actual billing statement wasn’t attached to the public complaint, the filing notes, in order to protect Kiriakos’ health information under HIPAA.
The hospital is asking a judge to order Kiriakos to pay the full balance, plus interest and, on the breach of contract count, attorneys’ fees and court costs.
Patients should be advised in writing at arriving at hospital ER of their rights before signing ANYTHING. Nothing is “just routine”! Patient should understand all they are signing.
That is precisely why they ask you to read and sign forms.
It was unrealistic for that patient to think he was getting free treatment.
this is a complex comment about the lawsuit for $65,000 for a hospital service, but I will try to explain why I am commenting. Hospitals and doctors have a charge system that makes little sense and does not relate to the cost of supplying services to patients. It usually doesn’t matter because most insurers pay for their covered patients based on either a contract amount or based on the service rendered, or category of illness, as defined by their contract with the provider. It usually has nothing to do with the providers’ charges. So why do they use charges? someone, not covered by an insurance program like Medicare or private insurance, is the only type of patient that gets stuck with these ridiculous charges, which could be 5 times what the insurance would have paid. When Obama care legislation was passed, this incredibly stupid practice could have been stopped, but that legislation ignored the problem. I don’t know if this $65,000 bill is a “charge based” bill, or one that is based on a more reasonable charge similar to what an insurance company would pay. But if is charges, I hope the judge throws it out and demands a reimbursement demand based on cost.
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