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Medical Malpractice? Deal With Doctor or Consult a Lawyer?
dirk d asked:
My friend went in for 1/2 hour outpatient procedure. When she woke up it was over 24 hours later with major surgery. spent many days in icu and missed a lot of work. The doctor made a mistake somewhere along the line. She does not want to put the doctor through the ringer, she understands it was a mistake. She does want her medical bills taken care of and I told her to get a little more to help with a mortgage, couple hundred thousand, not millions. So the question is would it be better to deal with the (doctor, hospital) or talk to a lawyer who will want to get a settlement for millions so he can make a lot of money and drive up insurance costs?
medical insurance billing and coding
<BR%20/>Tags: Insurance Costs, Ringer, Money, Major Surgery, Icu <BR%20/>My friend went in for 1/2 hour outpatient procedure. When she woke up it was over 24 hours later with major surgery. spent many days in icu and missed a lot of work. The doctor made a mistake somewhere along the line. She does not want to put the doctor through the ringer, she understands it was a mistake. She does want her medical bills taken care of and I told her to get a little more to help with a mortgage, couple hundred thousand, not millions. So the question is would it be better to deal with the (doctor, hospital) or talk to a lawyer who will want to get a settlement for millions so he can make a lot of money and drive up insurance costs?
medical insurance billing and coding
lawyer definetly
You can consult with there risk management first and see where it gets you but don’t sign anything. They might over you something fair becuase they don’t want to go through the expense of getting a lawyer and going to court. Don’t take their first offer. If they make you decide on the spot walk away. make sure you have control of the situation.
Your friend should consult an attorney that deals with this type of case. Not all lawyers are in it just for the money. It should not be hard to find one that will work with the guidelines you state in your question. An attorney can work with the doctors and hospital while looking out for her best interest.
Well you can talk with the doctor. He has insurance and they will try to negotiate a settlement (out of court).
This could be good in one way…You don’t have to pay some ambulance chaser 40-50% of your settlement.
Be careful though…Malpractice insurance companies tend to send you a low ball figure hoping you will settle.
If you do settle without lawyers, get covered for later illnesses that could be because of the mistake the doctor made.
Good Luck
How does she know the doctor made a mistake? They will NEVER admit they made a mistake to a patient because of the fear of being sued.
But she has to check with a lawyer. She—as the client has the right to agree upon the settlement amount. No lawyer will force you to sue for millions. Besides, it would be settled out of court. They won’t want to go to trial.