Are there consequences for not taking your spouse to receive medical care when she is clearly physically ill?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Are there consequences for not taking your spouse to receive medical care when she is clearly physically ill?

Asked on November 1, 2015 under Personal Injury, Washington

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

No, one adult is not required by the law to take another for medical care--even if the other is his spouse. However, he may not physically restrain the spouse (your mother) from seeking care; if he does try to physically prevent her, that could easily be a crime (ranging from simple assault to kidnapping to even attempted murder, depending on the exact facts). So your mother could have gone on her own for medical care, including by calling a cab if she couldn't drive, or even calling an ambulence or 911 if sufficinetly sick. Your mother does not need your stepfather to take her for medical care; she could have sought her own medical care.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption