Posted by Racer on May 12, 2005, at 18:04:37 [reposted on May 12, 2005, at 23:11:49 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Doctor/Patient Confidentiality, posted by JackD on May 12, 2005, at 14:49:38
> Should I contact a lawyer? Is he liable for slander? What about malpractice (he hangs up on my calls, and acts extremely rude). My doctor had absolutely no reason or proof that I he should place so much credence on the call/s, and I have reason to believe it may have been my sister in fact from overseas. I am definitely changing doctors! I know someone called because he suddenly called me and requested to see me, told me "a friend" called yet refused to tell me who, and also is now requiring urine tests. I live in New York.
Jack, you could consult an attorney, but here's a question: why? What benefit would that bring you?
That's the question I had to ask myself after a really bad experience with a doctor. My answer, which is only my answer for myself, was that suing would only make the trauma drag on. Reporting him to the licensing board, on the other hand...
In my case, I figured that it was very unlikely I'd really want to go through what I'd have to go through if I were to sue. And the idea of having some attorney question me about my mental illness? No way.
Getting another doctor, telling that new doctor what happened with this one, possibly reporting this behavior to the state board, and then working with your sister to resolve whatever it is that caused her to do this -- IF she's the one who called -- so that it doesn't happen again. Those would be my recommendations, if I were to recommend anything.
The benefit, for me, of a complaint to the medical licensing board is that I complain, and then they do whatever they do. I don't have to be involved anymore, beyond telling an investigator the story -- if htat, since most complaints aren't really followed up from what I've read. But it's OVER for me. And, while he may, eventually, have to justify his behavior, it won't be a he said/she said sort of thing. It will be a "Hey, uh, buddy? We've determined that you, uh, screwed up. Wanna tell us about it?" Much more satisfying from my point of view, that the spotlight will be on his behavior, and he won't be able to shift the focus onto me.
Now, again, that's me. Those are the thought processes behind the decisions I made for myself. I'm only offering them to show you one set of options.
By the way, did the doctor say anything about *why* he would put so much credence into a report from someone other than you? Did he tell you *why* he wasn't listening to you? Or was this just a "You Will Behave" sort of thing? Just curious.
poster:Racer
thread:497134
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050504/msgs/497142.html