You Saved My Life! So I sue you
Ah yes, folks, we have another frustrated lottery player who hasn't won the Powerball lottery, so they've purchased an entry into the lawsuit lottery -- in one of the most lucrative of all sub-games, the medical malpractice lawsuit lottery.
In Hawaii, one Dr. Robert Ricketson suddenly found himself in a bad spot -- he was in the middle of a very delicate surgery on a man's spine. In the middle of the operation, Dr. Ricketson was faced with a choice -- follow the exact protocol for the surgery, or let the man die. Apparently, he should have chosen death.
You see, the good doctor couldn't locate the exact titanium rod that was normally used for the operation. So, he could do nothing and wait for a new rod to arrive, during which time, in the doctor's medical opinion, the patient would die, or he could improvise. The doctor saved the man's life.
The man's (and I use that term loosely) response? Sue the doctor. No, really.
The doctor, in the process of saving the man's life, used a part of a screwdriver so the man would live. The man and his family are so annoyed, they want big piles of cash to make them feel better. And they will probably win.
So what have we learned? Foolish lawsuits are one of the big reasons why medical practice and insurance are so expensive. And if you have a choice between saving someone's life and following the rules, you should follow the rules. I guess these morons would be happier if the man just died.
Posted by: Ogre at
06:01 PM
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1
The irony is they would have sued for not trying to save his life if he died.
Posted by: Arbitratorofall at February 21, 2006 07:55 PM (5+Jvh)
2
Most certainly. It's called an absolute no-win situation. Anyone want to be a doctor today?
Posted by: Ogre at February 21, 2006 08:17 PM (2IrwV)
3
Ugh! That's so annoying!!
I had a botched surgery a few years ago. I was supposed to have two benign breast tumors removed. Only the surgeon missed one of them. She botched it so badly that I developed a HUGE hematoma and ended up in the ER because of it. I was also left with a large scar and swelling and bruising that was beyond the norm (I believe all of that happened because she spent so much time digging around looking for the tumor).
After all of that, I still felt the original lump. I went back to give her a second chance and she condescendingly told me it was bone I was feeling.
I had to go to another doctor and get another sonogram which showed that she indeed missed the tumor.
I had to go through surgery, and all the risks and ill effects, once again to remove the tumor.
I wanted her to have to pay the $500 extra out-of-pocket expenses we were going to have to pay because of her mistake, but no lawyer would take my case.
Yet, idiots like this guy get to sue for millions.
I don't understand why "real" people with real issues get ignored, while cases like these go through trial and even win. Disgusting.
Posted by: writewingnut at February 22, 2006 02:28 AM (2I4Ls)
4
That's so true! Why do REAL people with REAL problems get ignored while morons get to "win the lottery" with lawsuits?
I LOVE being on juries. I remember one where this woman was suing for "pain and suffering" from her accident. Everyone admitted it was the guy's fault. She wanted millions. We told the judge we wanted HER to pay for HIS time and suffering in court. He told us we couldn't do that...
Posted by: Ogre at February 22, 2006 02:33 AM (2IrwV)
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