Bay Area college students rescue tiny gopher, but get huge ER bill
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MORAGA, Calif. — What started as a kind-hearted act to save a trapped gopher turned into an expensive lesson for two Bay Area college students who were each billed thousands of dollars for what amounted to a few minor scratches — and a Spider-Man Band-Aid.
St. Mary’s College students Roark Rowland and Ali Darvish spotted a gopher struggling to climb out of a muddy hole tangled with roots. Hoping to help, the two tried to free the frightened animal.
“I’m trying to help you, dude! I’m trying to help you, man!” Rowland can be heard saying in a video he filmed during the rescue attempt.
But the gopher didn’t seem to appreciate the gesture. It squirmed and snapped, biting both students on the hand. The wounds were minor, but concern quickly shifted to the risk of rabies. With the campus clinic and urgent care closed, the pair reluctantly decided to visit the emergency room at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek.
“We knew about the perils of going to the ER and how much they charge,” Darvish said. “But we didn’t want to take chances with rabies.”
After waiting to be seen, hospital staff reassured them that gophers almost never carry rabies. No shots were necessary — just a simple cleaning and a Spider-Man Band-Aid. The relief didn’t last long once the bills arrived.
“They handed us a $1,200 bill and I said, ‘You’re kidding, right? That’s for a Band-Aid?’” Rowland recalled. “And they said, ‘No, that’s just the charge for showing up.’”
Ultimately, each student was billed $2,054, with $1,256 due out-of-pocket. But things got worse when Rowland was told he needed a tetanus booster — something a staffer assured him would be fully covered by insurance.
“She told me multiple times I wouldn’t be charged more,” Rowland said. “Then months later, I got a new bill for over $5,000. They charged $1,400 just for the tetanus shot.”
Rowland’s copay had nearly tripled to $3,500.
When 7 On Your Side contacted the hospital, John Muir Health acknowledged the billing error and issued a statement:
“Mr. Rowland’s services were documented and billed according to the care provided. However, the estimate should have been updated to include the tetanus shot so he could make an informed decision. We apologize for this error and are using it as a learning opportunity for our billing staff.”
After the inquiry, the hospital agreed to reduce Rowland’s bill to the original $1,200 estimate — saving him about $2,300.
Reached in Japan, where he now teaches English, Rowland was thrilled by the news.
“Oh my gosh, that’s incredible,” he said. “That’s really, really awesome.”
Despite the painful bites and financial sting, Rowland says he doesn’t regret helping the little animal.
“It probably thought I was trying to hurt it,” he said. “I just hope it made it back to its hole and is doing okay.”
John Muir Hospital says it’s reviewing how emergency room estimates are provided and how staff communicate out-of-pocket costs to patients — a lesson learned from a gopher that cost a lot more than anyone expected.
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