what kind of lawyer do i need when a doctor drops me as a patient.

by Ms. Karolann Ortiz 4 min read

An experienced attorney will help you navigate the legal, medical, and procedural intricacies of your lawsuit and will retain the right expert medical witness to strengthen your case. Most medical malpractice lawyers operate under a contingency fee agreement, meaning the client does not pay the lawyer out-of-pocket.

Full Answer

Can a doctor drop a patient?

Oct 02, 2014 · Avvo Rating: 10. Health Care Lawyer in Blue Bell, PA. Reveal number. tel: (610) 825-8400. Private message. Call. Message. Posted on Oct 3, 2014. There is no reason why a doctor can't refuse or discontinue care in Maryland and there are many reasons why a doctor would refuse treatment to a patient.

How do you deal with a doctor who is leaving?

Apr 11, 2013 · You cannot force a doctor to treat you nor should you want a doctor who is forced to do so. Find another doctor who understands you and is willing to treat you. Best of luck. Call for a free consultation at 727-937-1400 or visit us on the Web at www.serviceandjustice.com.

What to do if your doctor won’t take care of You?

Jun 09, 2020 · The reasons a healthcare provider may dismiss a patient are: 1. Patient non-compliance ( non-adherence): When the patient fails to follow the treatment recommendations established by the healthcare provider. (Which is why it is so important that you and your healthcare provider make treatment decisions together .)

Why hire a medical malpractice lawyer?

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. Mental health malpractice claims can be very broad and thus may include many different types of issues or cover various sorts of misconduct.

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What to do if your doctor dismisses you?

What to Do If Your Healthcare Provider Has Dismissed You
  1. Don't get overly argumentative, obnoxious, or aggressive. It could result in you being denied medical care.
  2. Don't ask the healthcare provider who is dismissing you for a referral. ...
  3. Don't complain about the old healthcare provider.
Jun 9, 2020

Can a doctor just drop you as a patient?

Even though physicians retain the legal right to dismiss patients in many situations, there are some circumstances when it's not only unadvisable but unethical and, depending on the state where it occurs, illegal and punishable both by law and by censure.

What is abandonment of patient?

Abandonment is considered a breach of duty and is defined as unilateral termination of the physician-patient relationship without providing adequate notice for the patient to obtain substitute medical care.Oct 9, 2021

Can a Dr drop you as a patient for no reason?

"From a malpractice and medical board standpoint, a physician can basically discharge a patient for any reason he wants, as long as it is nondiscriminatory and doesn't violate [the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act] or other laws, or puts the patient's health, safety, and welfare at risk," says Kabler.May 29, 2012

What is it called when a doctor refuses to see a patient?

Patient abandonment is a form of medical malpractice that occurs when a physician terminates the doctor-patient relationship without reasonable notice or a reasonable excuse, and fails to provide the patient with an opportunity to find a qualified replacement care provider.

Under what circumstances can a doctor refuse to treat a patient?

All doctors are entitled to withdraw their treatment of a patient or refuse to treat a patient in certain circumstances.
...
Your reasons cannot be based on the patient's:
  • Race.
  • Gender.
  • Social class.
  • Age.
  • Religion.
  • Sexual orientation.
  • Appearance.
  • Disability.

What are the legal steps a physician must follow to terminate the care of a patient?

In general, the physician-patient relationship can be terminated in two ways without creating liability for abandonment: 1) the physician ends the relationship after giving the patient notice, a reasonable opportunity to find substitute care and the information necessary to obtain the patient's medical records, or 2) ...Jun 24, 2019

Can I sue my doctor for not helping me?

What Is A Doctor's Duty Of Care? If a doctor failed to uphold their duty of care to you, then you could be entitled to make a medical negligence claim against them. Providing you can prove that the doctor in question caused your suffering unnecessarily, you could have grounds to sue them.

Can a doctor stop treating a patient?

Yes, your doctor can stop treating you for any non-discriminatory reason. However… (there's always conditions), there is a protocol that should be followed by your doctor before the doctor-patient relationship is terminated.

What to do if your doctor is not taking you seriously?

If you feel your primary care doctor doesn't take your symptoms seriously, ask for a referral to a specialist or go to a different practice for a second opinion. A fresh set of eyes can be extremely helpful. Review how to present your symptoms factually, clearly, quickly, and without unnecessary minutiae.

How do you get a doctor to take you seriously?

  1. Make a list of concerns and bring it. Unless your doctor has a practice like mine you aren't likely to get much face time with your doctor, so make the most of what you get. ...
  2. Prioritize your list ahead of time. ...
  3. Stay on topic. ...
  4. Repeat what's important to you. ...
  5. Go back once more.
Sep 20, 2018

Can you be denied medical treatment?

The element of consent is one of the critical issues in medical treatment. The patient has a legal right to autonomy and self determination enshrined within Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. He can refuse treatment except in an emergency situation where the doctor need not get consent for treatment.

When A Doctor May Dismiss A Patient

We've reviewed previously many of the complaints doctors have about patients. They include everything from non-adherence to obnoxious behavior to m...

When A Doctor Cannot Legally Dismiss A Patient

There are reasons and times a doctor may not legally or ethically fire a patient, too — most of which are based on state or federal law. 1. Doctors...

How The Patient Dismissal Takes Place

Some states have laws that govern the process a doctor should use to fire his patient. However, in most cases, the dismissal protocol is based more...

What to Do If Your Doctor Has Dismissed You

If your doctor fires you, you have a few options: 1. If you want to go back to that doctor, you may want to attempt to repair the relationship with...

Christopher Edward Ezold

Before I respond to your inquiry, I must state that we have not spoken, I have not reviewed the relevant documents and facts, and I do not represent you. Therefore, my discussion below is not a legal opinion, but is informational only.

Jody R. Pollara

There is no reason why a doctor can't refuse or discontinue care in Maryland and there are many reasons why a doctor would refuse treatment to a patient. You have only posted limited facts here, but the doctor may have a valid medical reason why he or she believed the 20-week sonogram was necessary.

Don Karotkin

Just as you have the right to fire your doctor for any reason or no reason at all, he or she has the right to fire you as a patient for any reason or no reason at all. In plain English, it's a free country.#N#Good luck.

Robert Warren Painter

I recommend that you find a new physician as soon as possible. The physician-patient relationship is a unique one, but is still one that has to be agreed to by both parties. Good luck.

George Costas Andriotis

You cannot force a doctor to treat you nor should you want a doctor who is forced to do so. Find another doctor who understands you and is willing to treat you. Best of luck.

Marc Edward Stewart

There is no legal way to enslave a physician and make them provide treatment to you. unless you are in an emergently, life-threatening situation, a physician has no legal obligation to provide services. It's just like a restaurant: they can deny service for any reason...

What to do if your doctor dismisses you?

If your doctor fires you, you have a few options: If you want to go back to that doctor, you may want to attempt to repair the relationship with your doctor. This will involve knowing what the reason was that you were dismissed (which may, or may not, be apparent).

Can a doctor dismiss a patient?

Doctors may not dismiss a patient in the midst of ongoing medical care, called " continuity of care.". For example, a person who is pregnant cannot be dismissed by their doctor within a few weeks of delivery. A cancer patient cannot be fired before his chemo or radiation treatments are completed.

What does it mean when a patient doesn't show up for an appointment?

From the provider's perspective, that means a window of no income in addition to the fact that the patient isn't getting the help they need.

What happens if a doctor's practice is closed?

If the doctor's practice is closing: Just like the rest of us, doctors close their practices. They may sell them, or retire from practice, they may die, or just close their doors. A relatively new reason for dismissal seems to be based on the type of insurance a patient has.

What is non-adherence in medical terms?

Patient non-compliance ( non-adherence): When the patient fails to follow the treatment recommendations established by the doctor. (Which is why it is so important that you and your doctor make treatment decisions together .) Patient's failure to keep appointments: Patients make appointments, then cancel them at the last minute, ...

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.

Can you bring a medical malpractice claim against a doctor?

So, if your injuries were caused by the medical negligence of a doctor who was acting as an independent contractor in the hospital setting, you must bring your medical malpractice claim directly against the doctor rather than against the facility. Sometimes, of course, these "fault lines" blur.

What is the name of the document that a patient must file to avoid a lawsuit?

In an effort to prevent the filing of baseless medical malpractice lawsuits, a growing number of states now require patients to file what is known as a “certificate of merit” or “affidavit of merit” along with the initial paperwork that starts the lawsuit.

Can a hospital be liable for medical malpractice?

It's true that a hospital or other care facility can be liable for medical malpractice, but when a doctor's medical negligence is at issue, much depends on the nature of the relationship between the facility and the practitioner.

Is medical malpractice a self-representation?

Medical malpractice cases are often incredibly complex, making self-representation an unwise strategy for most plaintiffs. An experienced attorney will help you navigate the legal, medical, and procedural intricacies of your lawsuit and will retain the right expert medical witness to strengthen your case.

How long does it take to file a medical malpractice lawsuit?

While these limitations periods vary from state to state, the window for bringing a medical malpractice lawsuit is typically between one and three years from the date of the negligent act.

What happens if a lawyer loses a case?

If the lawyer loses the case, the lawyer usually is not paid, though the client may be on the hook for certain costs. 3.

Is a medical malpractice case a legal action?

A medical malpractice case isn't the kind of legal action you want to try handling on your own. These cases can get very complex from a legal, medical, and procedural standpoint. Proving your case is going to require not just a firm understanding of the law as it applies to your situation, but a familiarity with the kinds of hoops a medical malpractice plaintiff needs to jump through, including the retention of the right expert medical witness.

What is medical malpractice?

While medical malpractice laws are designed to protect the rights of patients who have been subjected to substandard medical care, the first step in asserting those rights must be taken by the patients themselves. This article describes those steps in-depth, in the context of a medical malpractice case against a hospital. 1.

What is the statute of limitations for medical malpractice?

1. Act Before The Statute of Limitations Deadline Passes. The biggest mistake a patient can make is waiting too long to file a medical malpractice lawsuit in court. Statutory time limits (called "statutes of limitations" in legalese) require patients to file legal claims promptly.

How long do hospitals keep medical records?

A hospital must keep every patient's medical records for at least a few years after treatment . Upon request, the hospital must give copies of the records to the patient (however, the hospital may charge a fee for copying expenses).

What is an affidavit of merit?

A patient might have to file an affidavit of merit in which a qualified medical expert attests that the plaintiff has a valid case. A patient also might have to submit a claim to a medical review board before filing in court, or agree to some form of pre-lawsuit alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

What happens when a physician leaves a medical practice?

When a physician leaves a practice, usually the practice will pay compensation after the termination date. First, there is salary owed to the date of termination plus accrued vacation pay.

What is a patient authorization form?

Be sure to include in the notice a patient authorization form that states where medical records will be stored. For example, the notice might have 2 boxes that can be checked – one that keeps records at the practice, and one that transfers the records to the departing physician.

What is tail insurance?

Insurance. A tail policy covers malpractice claims for incidents that occurred while the departing physician was still with the practice (even though the claim was filed after the physician left the practice). Tail coverage is expensive but worth the money.

Do physicians use email?

Many physicians use e-mail and have websites that allow for automatic e-mail and give their e-mail address. Having such a website and putting the e-mail address on professional letterhead or business cards constitutes an implied invitation to patients to use e-mail to communicate with the physicians.

What is proper notice?

Most courts have held that proper notice means that the notice of withdrawal must be actually communicated to the patient and must give the patient sufficient time to obtain other medical treatment from another physician of the patient’s choosing.

What is an abandonment claim?

Abandonment is a legal claim that occurs when a physician terminates the professional relationship with a patient without reasonable notice and when continued care is medically necessary. There is no reason physicians cannot go through an entire career without ever having an abandonment claim made against them.

What is the tort of abandonment?

Abandonment is a tort (legal wrong) that may give you cause for a legal action against your physician. To prove abandonment you usually have to show (a) a physician-patient relationship; (b) that was terminated or neglected by the physician and (c) that caused you harm. An attorney can advise you about.

Do opioids help with pain?

Prescribers who use opioids for pain management must feel secure about treating you and your pain and must overcome his comfort level limitation on dosage. Therefore, put aside your anger and frustration to present yourself as effectively as possible.

Is depression a chronic pain?

Depression and anxiety are almost synonymous with chronic pain, as is social isolation. Many studies show that a psychological evaluation and even ongoing psychological care can substantially improve pain management, as can other modalities, such as neurocognitive feedback.

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