Bay Area family gets $5,000 bill for sitting in an ER waiting room. Here's how 7 On Your Side helped

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A South Bay viewer says his family received a bill for thousands after a trip to the ER for his son, who didn't actually make it past the waiting room.

In May, 11-year-old Nathan Jachimiec's son Ian broke out in a rash.

"He's never had anything like this before so this was new for us as parents," said Jachimiec.

The couple gave him Benadryl and brought him to the Good Samaritan Emergency Room in San Jose out of an abundance of caution.

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Jachimiec says a doctor never evaluated his son, they just sort of waited, and while they did, Ian seemed to be getting better.

Enough so, that the family tried to leave the ER.

"He says wait, wait, you just can't go," said Jachimiec.

They received written instructions which basically said Jachimiec should continue giving his son Benadryl.

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"The triage nurse then gave me this printout and then we left and went home," said Jachimiec.

Not thinking much of it until the bill came.

"Over $5,000," said Jachimiec.

"My son was never even seen by that doctor," he continued.

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Out of frustration trying to fight the bill, Jachimiec reached out to 7 On Your Side and we reached out to Good Samaritan Hospital.

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson writes in part, "Once we were made aware of the patient's situation, our team acted quickly to resolve the matter."

Jachimiec told us, the hospital wrote off the bill.

"I'm glad that 7 On Your Side was there in this case, thank you," said Jachimiec.

Good Samaritan hospital tells us it is committed to transparency, compassion and fairness and takes concerns like these seriously.

Take a look at more stories and videos by 7 On Your Side.

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