lawyer who deals with patients complaints

by Jaqueline Fay 10 min read

Who can a patient file a complaint against a doctor?

Aug 03, 2020 · This was typically around $10,000-$20,000 and required the patient to waive their right to sue. You would be amazed at how many people took this offer. Patient complaints will happen. Expect this as a practice owner. The best way to avoid a complaint is by preventing it in the first place, but you also need to be aware of how to deal with them.

How do you handle patient complaints in a hospital?

If you believe you or someone you love were the victim of medical malpractice, contact Morgan & Morgan. Our legal team will review your situation in a free, no-obligation case evaluation. If you have a claim for compensation, we’ll work tirelessly to hold the responsible party accountable and secure full restitution.

What is the relationship between patient complaints and malpractice litigation?

Find health care attorneys who serve clients with a wide range of health care law-related needs. From health care providers needing assistance with legal compliance issues or defending against claims, to patients who need to speak to an attorney regarding medical record matters or HIPAA privacy issues, the FindLaw lawyer directory can connect you with the health care lawyer best …

What is a “patient complaint”?

Some common examples of a hospital lawsuit include but may not be limited to: Emergency room malpractice; Refusing to admit or treat a patient without adhering to proper denial protocol; Violating patient privacy rights; Slip and fall injuries; Administrative errors; and/or. Insurance related disputes. Hospital negligence may be direct, such as:

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When a patient complaints what should you do?

6 Steps for Dealing with Patient Complaints
  1. Listen. As simple as it sounds, it is your first step in dealing with the complaint effectively. ...
  2. Repeat. Summarize what the customer said so they know you were listening.
  3. Apologize. I am often amazed by how powerful this one word is. ...
  4. Acknowledge. ...
  5. Explain. ...
  6. Thank the customer.
Dec 20, 2012

Where do I report medical negligence in South Africa?

If you feel that an alternative healthcare practitioner acted negligently or unethically, report to the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA)to investigate the complaint.

What is the most common patient complaint?

Studies have found that the vast majority of hospital patient complaints are related to the customer service they receive, specifically in the areas of:
  • Staff/Patient Communication: 53 percent.
  • Long Wait Times: 35 percent.
  • Practice Staff Behavior: 12 percent.
  • Billing Discrepencies: 2 percent.
Sep 16, 2016

What is the most common reason for patient complaints?

The three most frequent complaints were “not benefiting from services in general” (35.4%), “not being treated in a respectable manner and in comfortable conditions” (17.8%), and “not being properly informed” (13.5%).

How long does a medical negligence case take in South Africa?

One can expect a minimum of 3 – 4 years from the date of instituting a claim against a medical practitioner/hospital to date of finalisation of the claim.

What is the average payout for medical negligence in South Africa?

the average value paid out per claim was R117,059. R645,832 was the average pay-out for loss of earnings. R390,004 was the average pay-out for general damages. R15,030 was the average pay-out for medical expenses.Apr 8, 2018

What are the 10 rights of the patient?

Let's take a look at your rights.
  • The Right to Be Treated with Respect.
  • The Right to Obtain Your Medical Records.
  • The Right to Privacy of Your Medical Records.
  • The Right to Make a Treatment Choice.
  • The Right to Informed Consent.
  • The Right to Refuse Treatment.
  • The Right to Make Decisions About End-of-Life Care.
Feb 25, 2020

What is patient complaint policy?

Purpose. To establish a mechanism for receiving, acting on, and responding to complaints from patients, family members, and/or legal representative regarding treatment or care that is (or fails to be) furnished.

What is Chief Complaint example?

A chief complaint is a statement, typically in the patient's own words: “my knee hurts,” for example, or “I have chest pain.” On occasion, the reason for the visit is follow-up, but if the record only states “patient here for follow-up,” this is an incomplete chief complaint, and the auditor may not even continue with ...May 7, 2018

How do you respond to a healthcare complaint?

Responding to the complaint
  1. Patient confidentiality. ...
  2. Timescale. ...
  3. Typed response. ...
  4. Identify yourself. ...
  5. The response should be capable of standing on its own. ...
  6. Give a detailed report of the part you played. ...
  7. Say which details of your account are based on memory, contemporaneous notes or usual or normal practice.

How do you respond to a patient complaint letter?

First, open your letter with a courteous and professional salutation. Add a subject line to acknowledge that you received the complaint. Next, explain the purpose of your letter, referencing the concerns they shared in their complaint letter. Then apologize for the patient's experience.Nov 5, 2019

Why do you think complaints occur with nurses?

If you feel a registered nurse or a registered nurse practitioner has engaged in poor practice, inappropriate behaviour, has not met the standards of nursing practice or the Code of Ethics, or is posing a risk to public safety you may have grounds to file a complaint with us.

What Is Medical Malpractice?

Medical malpractice takes place when a healthcare provider provides treatment that falls below the accepted standard of care in the medical communi...

Examples of Medical Malpractice

Patients can be victims of medical malpractice in a variety of different ways. Below are some examples.Anesthesia ErrorsAnesthesia errors are one a...

How Do You Know If You Have A Medical Malpractice Case?

You might be asking yourself, “How do I know if I have a medical malpractice case?” or “How Can I Prove a Medical Malpractice Case?” If you’re cons...

Damages in A Medical Malpractice Case

Although we touched on medical malpractice damages above, here is some more detailed information on the type of damages in a medical malpractice ca...

What Does A Medical Malpractice Attorney do?

If you’ve determined that you might have a medical malpractice case, you probably have some questions: How do I choose a good attorney and what can...

How Long Do You Have to File A Lawsuit For Medical Malpractice?

Under laws in certain states, a statute of limitations limits the amount of time under which an injured patient may pursue a medical malpractice la...

Why Morgan & Morgan Has Won Millions For Injured Patients

Our attorneys at Morgan & Morgan have recovered millions of dollars for injured patients, because we’ve been doing this a long time. We know what t...

What Is usually Claimed in Mental Health Malpractice Cases?

The following are the most commonly associated claims in successful mental health malpractice cases: 1. Sexual impropriety 2. Incorrect treatment 3...

Are There Any Defenses to Mental Health Malpractice?

The same defenses for a medical malpractice case often work for mental health malpractice as well. The most common defenses are: 1. Statute of Limi...

Should I Contact A Personal Injury Attorney?

If you have suffered from injuries as a result of mental health visits, or have been accused of mental health malpractice, the advice and counsel o...

Why are hospitals being sued?

Lawsuits are filed against hospitals for a wide variety of reasons. As previously mentioned, negligence and malpractice are the most common. Some lawsuits may be for small or one-time incidents, while others are for larger or more far-reaching incidents.

What is negligence in medical malpractice?

Negligence is based on a person’s failure to do something, rather than their actual actions. However, lawsuits against hospitals may involve various legal claims and theories besides negligence. Lawsuits involving hospitals are most commonly related to some sort of medical malpractice.

What are the consequences of hospital negligence?

Hospital negligence may be direct, such as: 1 Failing to ensure that all staff meet required standards for licensing, training, and education; 2 Not maintaining sufficient staff to ensure appropriate levels of patient care; and/or 3 Losing, mishandling, or unlawfully transferring confidential patient records.

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice refers to the negligence of a healthcare professional resulting in the injury of a patient with whom they have, or previously had, a professional relationship. Under the corporate negligence doctrine, the hospital itself may be held responsible for a mistake made by a doctor or other staff employed by the hospital.

Is a doctor considered an independent contractor?

While some doctors are employees of the hospital, many are actually legally considered to be independent contractors. This is generally the case with surgeons. What this means is that if a patient is injured while in the doctor’s care at the hospital, the hospital is not legally responsible for the injury.

What is corporate negligence?

Under the corporate negligence doctrine, the hospital itself may be held responsible for a mistake made by a doctor or other staff employed by the hospital. Lawsuits could also involve hospital-wide policies that fall below state medical standards.

Can a doctor be sued for medical malpractice?

For example, a doctor who fails to treat their patient properly and as a result, ends up making the patient worse, could be sued for medical malpractice .

What rights do patients have?

One of the primary rights that patients should know about is the right to refuse treatment. Regardless of whether the patient was committed to a mental health facility voluntarily or involuntarily, according to the law, a patient always has a right to refuse treatment. However, there may be some exceptions.

What are some examples of mental health malpractice?

Although many claims for mental health malpractice are brought on an individual case basis, there are several common scenarios that show up more frequently than others in such cases. These include the following examples: 1 Misdiagnosing a patient (e.g., the mental health practitioner had another patient’s files when they diagnosed their current patient, which led to a misdiagnosis); 2 Providing incorrect treatment to a patient (this could stem from an initial misdiagnosis); 3 Negligent mishandling of a patient at a mental health institute; 4 Engaging in a sexual relationship or sexually abusing the patient; 5 Breaching the patient’s confidentiality (e.g., sharing patient files without their consent); 6 Verbally or physically abusing the patient; or 7 Failing to prevent the patient from committing suicide (especially if the mental health professional was aware of the patient’s intentions).

What is a malpractice lawsuit?

A rapidly growing field of malpractice lawsuits stems from a category known as “mental health malpractice.”. A mental health malpractice claim may arise when a mental health practitioner (e.g., a psychiatrist) treats their patient in a negligent manner or abuses the power that they have over them as a professional.

What is the Supreme Court case in Tarasoff v. Regents?

Regents of the University of California, held that mental health providers do have a duty to protect individuals that may be at risk of bodily harm based on information learned from their patients.

Who enforces HIPAA?

HIPAA compliance is regulated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR’s role in maintaining HIPAA compliance comes in the form of routine guidance on new issues affecting health care and in investigating common HIPAA violations.

How long does it take to file a HIPAA complaint?

Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the discovery of the violation, although in limited cases, an extension may be granted. Complaints can also be filed with state attorneys general, who also have the authority to pursue cases against HIPAA-covered entities for HIPAA violations.

What is HIPAA law?

Understanding the HIPAA law. HIPAA is an abbreviation of “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.”. It was established in 1996 to improve efficiencies in the US health care system. The HIPAA law attempts to ensure strict confidentially and privacy of your medical information. Though Utah law allows you to access your medical records, ...

Why is it important to know the value of your medical records?

It is important to know the value of your medical records. These records will be extremely useful for your lawyer, policy provider and your doctor. Most importantly, your doctors will need your past medical history and past medical records in order to most effectively treat you. But your medical records are confidential and cannot be accessed by anyone else unless they have your specific written permission. And this is core aspect of the HIPAA law. It is also referred to as the HIPAA privacy rule

Can you share your medical records with a surrogate?

Under the HIPAA privacy rule, anyone such as your hospital/health care provider who has access to your medical records cannot share it with any third party person except with your mentioned surrogate. They can only share it with other people if it is a case of an emergency or it is an absolute necessity to share the details. Otherwise, they cannot be shared without your written consent. This makes sure that your medical records will never be shared for illegal practices and if they are, then the person disclosing them may be civilly punished.

What are the two parts of HIPPA?

The HIPPA Law has two parts.#N#• Part1 deals with insurance portability, which means that insurance coverage for employees will continue even when they changes jobs .#N#• Part2 focuses more on standardizing health care information, particularly e-exchange of such information and also looks minimizing health care fraud and abuse.#N#As afore-stated, the medical practitioner, lawyer as well as the policy providers are allowed to share the details in case of absolute emergencies or when it is a necessity or as required by law in cases of litigation or discovery process.#N#How does one define those emergencies and necessities?#N#Here is a list of emergencies and necessities defined by Utah Law. In case of these emergencies, one is compelled to share the available medical information. The emergencies and necessities are as follows:#N#• Life threatening situations#N#• Child abuse#N#• Court orders#N#• Gun shots#N#• Sexual abuse#N#• Death#N#• Surveillance#N#• Compensation#N#If the medical records are disclosed for a reason which is different from the reasons mentioned above then the offending party may be charged a fine of $100, and upwards of $1,500.00 per violation. If the release of the records is intentional, the perpetrator could face criminal charges and face prison time.

Can you share medical information with family?

The HIPAA law is quite complex and several doctors and health care providers are not exactly sure how this affects them. As a result, they may refrain from sharing critical medical information with your family or even with you in certain situations. The fact is, with your written permission, information can be shared with anyone you want. If you believe that it is necessary for others to have access to your medical information, you should inform your health care provider. HIPAA is intended to be for the benefit of the patient. It often plays a legal role in the personal injury context as medical records and its disclosures play a fundamental role.

What to do if you are denied Medicare?

If you have been denied such coverage, the best thing to do is to consult with a lawyer who specializes in Medicare and Medicaid law. Simply accepting a denial on a claim may not be a smart course of action. Many times, you do have legal recourse.

What happens if you are accused of fraud?

Otherwise, you put your rights at incredible risk and can end up facing a huge array of penalties and legal repercussions.

Is physical therapy covered by Medicare?

Familiarizing yourself with a few basic facts is a good way to begin: Things like nursing home care and physical therapy may be covered by Medicaid or Medicare. If you have been denied such coverage, the best thing to do is to consult with a lawyer who specializes in Medicare and Medicaid law.

Is Medicare and Medicaid confusing?

Medicare And Medicaid. The Medicare and Medicaid system in the United States can be tremendously confusing. When you are denied Medicaid benefits or otherwise have problems with a social welfare program, it can feel like you are all alone.

What is a complaint in CMS?

Complaints, as defined by CMS, are patient issues that can be resolved promptly or within 24 hours and involve staff who are present (e.g ., nursing, administration, patient advocates) at the time of the complaint. Complaints typically involve minor issues, such as room housekeeping or food preferences.

When is a grievance considered resolved?

According to CMS regulations, a grievance is considered resolved when the party who filed the grievance is satisfied with the response, or when the healthcare facility has taken "appropriate and reasonable" actions to resolve the grievance even if the patient or patient's family is unsatisfied with the response.

How long does it take to respond to a grievance?

Grievances about situations that could endanger a patient (e.g., neglect, abuse) should be reviewed immediately. Typically, a response time of seven days is appropriate; most grievances should be resolved within that amount of time.

Why is documentation important for CMS?

Documentation. Documentation of complaints and grievances, as well as their resolution, is important not just for CMS compliance but also for quality improvement and risk management purposes. Documentation of investigations and results is also typically of interest to surveyors (Venn).

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