Already squeezed by litigation-driven hikes in medical liability insurance premiums, Nevada doctors may be facing a new type of lawsuit. Fed up with having to wait three hours to see his doctor, patient Aristotelis Belavilas filed suit for $5,000, explaining “My time is worth something just like his is.” A Las Vegas small claims court awarded Belavilas $365 in damages and court fees. Dr. Ty Weller, understandably “appalled” by the case, said he plans to appeal. “Even more important than the money is that now I have to worry about other patients doing this to me,” he said. (“Impatient patient sues doctor for waiting time,” Assoc. Press, July 30).
Addendum: RangelMD has more (Jul. 30, Jul. 31) as does MedRants and Cut to Cure. Update: case settled in Sept. 2003 for doctor’s apology and payment to charity, see Sept. 16, 2005.
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