Dad Spurs Viral Debate After Blaming Ex-Wife for Their Son’s Ankle Surgery — and Insisting She Pay For It

A group of divorced parents are embroiled in a dispute over who should cover their child’s medical expenses.

In a post on Reddit, the father, username Rough_Hunter9638, described how the situation unfolded when his son, Austin, 16, injured his ankle during a soccer game last month. After the injury, the father said he took his son to the emergency room and then to an orthopedist who advised him to rest the ankle for six weeks.

“Austin was complacent and did nothing but complain about how much it hurt. Miraculously, he suddenly felt better when he got the chance to perform at the school assembly. It’s basically a class competition. The juniors worked Fat performance,” the father wrote in the AITA subreddit.

“I asked my son, how are you going to dance when your ankle is injured? He said he was fine and was ‘stretching out’. I talked to his mom and she said let it go. I agreed, but I told her to pay all the medical bills, regardless of whether she met her deductible or not,” he continued.

A boy reads with a cast on his leg.

Getty

6-foot-tall Beauty Influencer Broke 100 Bones Due to Genetic Disorder: ‘Everyone Has Challenges’ (Exclusive)

The dad went on to say that Austin attended a dance, where he ended up further injuring his foot. He said his son picked up friends and even carried other people on his shoulders. “He wasn’t even wearing an ankle brace,” he wrote. – Towards the end, he literally danced on one leg.

After picking him up from school, the father said he took Austin back to the orthopedist, who said he not only had a third-degree sprain, but a torn ligament. The doctor suggested surgery if rest and rehabilitation failed.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I said we could do the surgery,” the father wrote. “I talked to his mom and told her he had to provide his insurance information. Yes, our boys have double insurance.”

“In short, her insurance covers 65% and mine covers 35%, with a fee of 3 thousand. The bill is issued only after the operation, which was on Tuesday. I told my ex that I do not pay any wages. It is up to her. She said that “It’s okay for him to dance after I said no. She said it wasn’t fair. I said it was a shame. It was all completely preventable,” he added.

“She said I have to pay half, and I said, then take me to court. It will cost you more.”

A teenager with a broken foot

Jeremy Renner Says His ’30 Plus Broken Bones’ Will ‘Stick’ and ‘Strengthen’ After Snow Plow Accident

In the comments on the post, people shared their thoughts on how dad should handle the situation. One person said: “NTA [not the a–hole] and I actually agree with you. She made this decision, she should pay for it.”

Another person suggested we go back to the custody agreement and follow exactly what it says regarding the medical bills. “That’s the only opinion that matters,” they wrote.

Other Reddit users think it’s fair for parents to split the cost in half. “None of you stood up to a 16 year old and told him not to do it or face the consequences. So pay up,” they wrote. “Split it 50/50, since you’re both at fault. Actually, you chose surgery, so make it 55/45.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education