This reminds me of one case in which the doctor fought back and won. About 15 years ago, a buddy of mine (a local orthopedic surgeon here in Westchester County, New York), called to say he had been sued in small claims court for $3,000 for a “patient’s” time lost when the doctor was unable to see him. The plaintiff had begged the doctor for an appointment to address his excruciating back pain and, though the doctor was booked solid, he said come on down right now and I’ll see you. The patient (s00n to be small claims plaintiff) said not today, I’m busy, how about tomorrow. The doctor said I’m in surgery tomorrow morning but should be out by noon, come to the ER then and ask for me. So that’s what happened except that the doctor was tied up in surgery the next day until 1pm. The patient stormed out of the ER and sued the doctor doc for his time spent waiting for the doctor to show up. Can you spell chutzpa (can I)? We brought a counter-suit alleging a malicious, groundless lawsuit by the patient (yes, in small claims court) and notified the press. The case got national press attention, the patient dropped his suit, and the patient paid the doctor $1,500 which he gave to hospital (and I took no fee of course). Ha!
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This reminds me of one case in which the doctor fought back and won. About 15 years ago, a buddy of mine (a local orthopedic surgeon here in Westchester County, New York), called to say he had been sued in small claims court for $3,000 for a “patient’s” time lost when the doctor was unable to see him. The plaintiff had begged the doctor for an appointment to address his excruciating back pain and, though the doctor was booked solid, he said come on down right now and I’ll see you. The patient (s00n to be small claims plaintiff) said not today, I’m busy, how about tomorrow. The doctor said I’m in surgery tomorrow morning but should be out by noon, come to the ER then and ask for me. So that’s what happened except that the doctor was tied up in surgery the next day until 1pm. The patient stormed out of the ER and sued the doctor doc for his time spent waiting for the doctor to show up. Can you spell chutzpa (can I)? We brought a counter-suit alleging a malicious, groundless lawsuit by the patient (yes, in small claims court) and notified the press. The case got national press attention, the patient dropped his suit, and the patient paid the doctor $1,500 which he gave to hospital (and I took no fee of course). Ha!