Who Answers the Phone at Your Medical Office Matters—A Lot
Hell hath no fury like a dental patient scorned. One recent news flash: A woman in Lincoln County accused of slashing tires on 18 vehicles outside a dentist’s office has been arrested and charged, Lincolnton Police confirmed with Queen City News on Tuesday. Officers responded … Read more
Utah Supreme Court Rules Non-Patients Can Sue Doctors
Utah’s highest court ruled that family members can sue a doctor if something goes wrong with their loved one’s care. Doctors, of course, owe a duty of care to their patients. But, if their care affects non-patients…well, that is mostly new territory.
A Lawsuit Proceeds: Patient Had No Physical Injury
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania opened the door to allowing patients to sue for negligent infliction of emotional distress. No physical injury needs to accompany the claim. Here’s the background. In March, 2003 (yes, 9 years ago), Jeanelle Toney was pregnant and had a pelvic … Read more
When Doctors Sue Patients – Defamation Is Devastating, but a Lawsuit Could Make It Worse
Florida Medical Magazine By: Jeffrey Segal, MD, JD, FACS, et al. Before we dive in, some fast advice. Suing a patient for defamation is challenging. It will likely propel you and your practice into the spotlight – and not in a good way. If you … Read more
An Interesting Legal Case – You Can’t Make This Stuff Up
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS Kyle Richards, 21, an inmate in a Michigan jail, sued the governor and the state over his lack of access to porn. Really. Who is Kyle Richards? He entered a guilty plea to bank robbery. Now, he claims he is … Read more
Massive Judgment Against Florida HCA Hospital
Michael J. Sacopulos, Esq. A jury in Jacksonville, Florida entered a $178 million judgment against physicians and an HCA owned hospital for a gastric bypass procedure that went horribly awry. In 2007 following laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, the patient, Clay Chandler, suffered respiratory failure and … Read more
Blood Pressure Cuff Gone Wild. Doctor Sued for Battery
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS Have you ever had a patient who, in the middle of a procedure, said “Please stop. It hurts.” Never? Almost every doctor has heard these words once. One doctor apparently did not heed these words quickly enough. He was sued … Read more
Top Ten Frivolous Lawsuits for 2011
The US Chamber of Commerce memorialized 2011 with its list of Top 10 Frivolous Lawsuits.
Social Media’s Impact on Litigation
The social media revolution has inflamed other aspects of the trial process. Attorneys now devote effort to reviewing the other party’s social media use. Information that you post for friends or colleagues may well end up as a piece of evidence in a trial. Social media sites have become a new frontier for lawyers to explore in litigation so be careful what you post.
A New Threat: Patient Predatory Lending Claims
Michael J. Sacopulos, Esq. An doctor was sued several weeks ago for her use of a healthcare financing company. The suit was brought as a class action and is based upon consumer fraud laws. The allegations center around the way the credit application was presented … Read more
Lawyers and Medical Malpractice Reform: Tort Reform Allies for Doctors?
Michael Kirsch, M.D. – author, MD Whistleblower When lawyers talk, I listen. Two attorneys penned a piece on medical malpractice reform in the April 21st issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, the most prestigious medical journal on the planet. Here is an excerpt … Read more
Blog Categories
Healthcare Reform HIPAA & Patient Privacy Legal Medical Malpractice News/Announcements Patient Safety Reputation Management Risk Management
Medico-legal challenge? We can help.
Receive weekly updates in your email inbox