What are my rights when I did not get the medical help I needed
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are my rights when I did not get the medical help I needed
I am passing a kidney stone. I have gone to 3
different doctors. No one gave me the help I
needed. On top of the pain I have very high
blood pressure, because if the pain. One
doctor even said the high blood pressure was
because of the pain but would not treat either
the pain or the high blood pressure. I have had
stones before and have always passed them. I
was told by all 3 to go get a CT scan. We do
not have insurance and can not afford one. I
have told the doctors this and still no one will
help. My only other option is to go to the ER
but cant afford that. I am worried about my
blood pressure being so high. Do I have any
grounds being turned away with high blood
pressure and them knowing that and the
reason and not helping?
Asked on February 14, 2019 under Malpractice Law, Utah
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
Doctors are not required to treat people if they feel those people need different help or treatment than what the doctor recommends. You write that all three doctors said you should get a CT scan: if three doctors all agreed as to that, that's almost certainly the right, or at least a very logical and reasonable, course of treatment. You refused their medical advice; that is not not providing you the help you needed, that is providing advice which you ignored. A doctor is not liable because you will not do what they tell you to do.
You say that you "know the cause of the high blood pressure," but you don't know that--you are not a doctor and you have not had necessary tests done. It is your opinion, nothing more, and doctors do not need to substitute your opinion for their own medical judgement.
Finally, it is not the doctor's issue if you don't have insurance and can't afford an ER or CT scan: they did not cause your financial situation, and are not required to treat you for free (which is what they would have needed to do, if you don't have insurance and can't afford medical treatment).
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.