Can I negotiate with a hospital/radiologist on my own?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I negotiate with a hospital/radiologist on my own?
I had a double mastectomy 10 years ago and reconstructive surgery with silicone breast implants. The implants were perfect and all was well for 9 years. Then I started to have occasional pain in the left breast. I really didn’t pay any attention until it kept me from sleeping one night. I called my plastic surgeon, who referred me for an MRI. The radiologist said that the left implant had ruptured. I opted to have both implants replaced at the same time. The surgeon removed the implants and found there was no rupture. And now I have capsular contracture of the left implant. My options are either to undergo another surgery, try an experimental ultrasound therapy or do nothing. I feel that I had to undergo needless surgery, I am out the surgeons’s fee of $1200, plus I have the added costs of repairing the contracted implant. I have not been able to find an attorney to take this on as the damages are so minor.
Asked on April 21, 2016 under Malpractice Law, Michigan
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Malpractice cases can be expensive (the need for medical expert testimony), are not certain (i.e. it's not guaranteed to win), and can take a long time to be paid even when they are successful, so a $1,200+ case is, as you've found out, not worth most attorney's time.
Legally, you can negotiate with the medical care providers yourself--you could even file a case yourself ("pro se"). For the amount of money at stake, this may be the best option; you may wish to imply that while you prefer to handle this yourself and resolve the matter amicably, you feel very strongly about how you were treated and will hire an attorney if necessary, to seek vindication. You want them to take you seriously and decide that providing some compensation is a small price to pay to avoid a potential lawsuit with someone with wants justice or satisfaction, regardless of cost.
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.