Is it legal for a doctor?!
Question: Is it legal for a doctor!?
to refuse treatment to a patient!?
My step dad was scheduled for hip replacement surgery on Monday April 28!.
So he was getting his paper work together because he had to take it to work so they could schedule his medical leave!. He saw on one paper they had him down for a KNEE replacement and the other one said hip replacement!. Then another paper said he was to only be out of work for four weeks and the doctor had already told him he would be out for 6 months and not able to apply pressure until atleast 6 weeks after the surgery!. Also the receptionist spelled orthopedic wrong!. She spelled it something like ortheropedics!. She works in an orthopedics office and can't even spell it!.
So today he went and showed them the mistakes they made because he didn't want to wake up after surgery with a new knee instead of a new hip!. He got just a little bit ill with them because he was already nervous about the surgery and don't need mistakes like this to worry him more!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
My step dad was scheduled for hip replacement surgery on Monday April 28!.
So he was getting his paper work together because he had to take it to work so they could schedule his medical leave!. He saw on one paper they had him down for a KNEE replacement and the other one said hip replacement!. Then another paper said he was to only be out of work for four weeks and the doctor had already told him he would be out for 6 months and not able to apply pressure until atleast 6 weeks after the surgery!. Also the receptionist spelled orthopedic wrong!. She spelled it something like ortheropedics!. She works in an orthopedics office and can't even spell it!.
So today he went and showed them the mistakes they made because he didn't want to wake up after surgery with a new knee instead of a new hip!. He got just a little bit ill with them because he was already nervous about the surgery and don't need mistakes like this to worry him more!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
A physician is an independant contractor!. His/her practice is run like a business!. One of the legitimate reasons that a Dr refuses to treat a patient is because the patient does not follow the Dr's advice!. For instance a heart patient that will not take their medications!. This can be proven by testing blood and not finding the medication in the blood!. The reason!.!.!.!.say the patient does not follow orders and then dies of the heart ailment!. So the family decides to sue the Dr!. The Dr has documentated several times that the patient is noncompliant, but some insurance companies will negotiate an out of court settlement and then cancel the Dr's malpractice insurance!. So to protect themselves the Dr refuses to treat the patient!. But this must be done in writing and a 30 day period is usually allowed for the patient to find another Dr!. The office will frequently send the letter by registered mail so it must be signed for to prove that it was received!. So the answer is: just like any business man a Dr has the right to refuse service to a patient!.
So that answers the basic question!. As for the described situation I have a couple of thoughts!. First I totally agree with your step Dad that the secretary in the ortho office should be able to spell the words!. If she is new then she needs additional training and a dictionary!. When the surgery is listed as two different types is does absolutely nothing to reassure the patient!. He was totally justified in going into the office to talk about it!. If the office staff and not the Dr told your step Dad that the surgery is canceled I would be suspicious that the Dr doesn't know what is going on!. The Dr owes the patient an explanation as well as an apology for the actions of the office staff!.
So what to do!? Does your step Dad like the surgeon that was set to do the procedure!? It might be worth calling the office and asking that the Dr call you at his convenience to see if he agrees that he/she won't do the operation!.
If your step Dad doesn't have any feelings one way or the other I would suggest that he call his medical Dr and ask for a referral to an ortho surgeon!. If his MD suggests the original Dr your step Dad can then explain the problem he experienced!.
Finally if your step Dad goes to another ortho Dr he should request copies of all of the x-rays and other studies that have already been done so they do not have to be repeated!.
Good luck to your step Dad!. I hope he finds a surgeon he can trust and an office where he feels respected!. ClaudiaWww@Answer-Health@Com
So that answers the basic question!. As for the described situation I have a couple of thoughts!. First I totally agree with your step Dad that the secretary in the ortho office should be able to spell the words!. If she is new then she needs additional training and a dictionary!. When the surgery is listed as two different types is does absolutely nothing to reassure the patient!. He was totally justified in going into the office to talk about it!. If the office staff and not the Dr told your step Dad that the surgery is canceled I would be suspicious that the Dr doesn't know what is going on!. The Dr owes the patient an explanation as well as an apology for the actions of the office staff!.
So what to do!? Does your step Dad like the surgeon that was set to do the procedure!? It might be worth calling the office and asking that the Dr call you at his convenience to see if he agrees that he/she won't do the operation!.
If your step Dad doesn't have any feelings one way or the other I would suggest that he call his medical Dr and ask for a referral to an ortho surgeon!. If his MD suggests the original Dr your step Dad can then explain the problem he experienced!.
Finally if your step Dad goes to another ortho Dr he should request copies of all of the x-rays and other studies that have already been done so they do not have to be repeated!.
Good luck to your step Dad!. I hope he finds a surgeon he can trust and an office where he feels respected!. ClaudiaWww@Answer-Health@Com
At the end of the day, it was likely the secretary who made those typos not the doctor!. Nobody is perfect and youve made plenty of spelling mistakes yourself!.!.!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I would find another doctor,even if i had to travel a bit!.then i would report the first doctor to he better business bureau!.
Everyone makes mistakes,but when it comes to replacing a hip or a knee, the doctor better have the right one!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Everyone makes mistakes,but when it comes to replacing a hip or a knee, the doctor better have the right one!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I would think that that is against some kind of rules!. I work at a hospital!. I think that he needs to find the hospital that the orthopedic doctor is on call for and complain to the patient advocate about it!. And when he files a grievance about it, he needs to say that he would like to know what is going to be done about it!. He can also call and get a physician referral so that they can find him another orthopedic doctor who will respect him!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Yes, it's very legal for a doctor to refuse treatment to a patient, except in critical cases (i!.e!. heart attack, severe burns, crash victims, etc!.) If the doctor thinks that he might be liable to be big trouble with the patient if something goes wrong (i!.e!. to risky) they can refuse to do surgery!. Or if a surgery is just down right stupid (such as a heart transplant on a healthy 20 year old kid) they can also refuse!. In your dad's case, I have no clue what to do except call additional orthopedic doctorsWww@Answer-Health@Com