Mayo Clinic
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The Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville: A Dangerous Disgrace to Veterans and to Medicine
As a highly decorated, 100% disabled Air Force combat veteran--a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served in four combat operations (JOINT ENDEAVOR, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, and ENDURING FREEDOM)--I came to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville for one reason: to survive. After four years of debilitating long-COVID, I flew over 4,000 miles from our home in Portugal, desperate for the world-class care Mayo claims to offer. I rented a car, spent over $2,000 on an Airbnb, and planned to stay a month--possibly even relocate--if I found the help I desperately needed. I arrived at the ER early on March 23, 2025, exhausted after driving the streets of Jacksonville all night. Why? Because the Airbnb host refused to give me access unless I signed an agreement outside of Airbnb's policies--and I refused. I walked into the Mayo ER asking for help. Instead, I was immediately sedated, stripped of my rights, and held against my will. Within hours, I was labeled "suicidal and homicidal" (a laughable claim given the circumstances), and involuntarily committed to a mental institution for 72 hours. Let me ask you: Would a suicidal or homicidal man fly 4,000 miles, rent a car and an apartment, and spend thousands of dollars trying to get medical care only to become suddenly suicidal or homicidal? Of course not, that's ridiculous. But the Mayo Clinic didn't care. Once I escaped this nightmare, I booked the first flight out of Jacksonville and immediately contacted an attorney. Mayo Clinic's ER staff violated my civil rights, plain and simple--but in Jacksonville, Mayo is apparently untouchable. No lawyer will take them on. And now? They're trying to bill me over $10,000--despite the fact that I'm fully covered by Tricare for Life and owe nothing. They've even threatened collections! DISABLED VETERANS BE WARNED: The Mayo Clinic is not the caring, elite institution they pretend to be. They will violate your rights, detain you without cause, and profit from your suffering. I was told by several multi-hospitalization patients as well as a few River Point Behavioral Health staff (who will remain nameless)) that this deplorable Mayo-River Point financial collaboration has been going on for quite some time. This is not care. This is medical abuse. DO NO HARM? CombatCritic Gives The Disgraceful Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville ZERO BOMBS OUT OF 10 ... And A Permanent Spot On My WALL OF SHAME™ ... More Bombs Are Better (Unless You're On the Receiving End)