Based on the facts of the previous question, Jay stays in the hospital for a few days as he is recuperating. Then, a couple of weeks after he gets released from the hospital, Jay receives a bill from the hospital for $10,000 for his medical care. If this went to court, the judge would probably describe this situation as:________. a. a bilateral contract, enforceable against Jay. b. a unilateral contract, enforceable against Jay. c. an implied contract, enforceable against Jay. d. no contract at all. Jay should not have to pay anything.
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Answer: c. an implied contract, enforceable against Jay.
When Jay stayed in the hospital to recuperate, he received medical care and other associated services from the hospital. Even though Jay may not have signed an explicit agreement with the hospital outlining that he would pay for these services, his acceptance of the services suggests that there was an understanding that he would pay for them. This understanding forms the basis of an implied contract.
In an implied contract, the terms and understanding of the agreement are inferred by the actions of the parties involved rather than written or spoken words. Since Jay received the care and did not object to it at the time, it is implied that he agreed to the terms, which include compensation for the medical care he received. Thus, if the case went to court, owing to the nature and norms of healthcare services, a judge would likely rule that an implied contract exists between Jay and the hospital, and it is enforceable against Jay.