I think MMR's first point hits the nail on the head. This is one of the most asinine malpractice claims I've ever seen. I can't believe the plaintiff even got attorney's fees. Would love to see what fault the plaintiff's "expert" supposedly saw in the care here.
So, what I take from this is that a doctor can provide outstanding, evidence-based care, attentive follow up, excellent documentation, and save someone's life from a deadly malignancy, and their thanks at the end of the day is a lawsuit.
Especially disappointing considering how clear it is that Dr. G was eminently knowledgeable, cared about this patient, steered through the curveballs, and saved a man's life. These are some fantastic examples of excellent clinical documentation. Everything about Dr. G's thought process was crystal clear, and a plaintiff's attorney would have to turn themselves inside out trying to impeach it at trial. Even if Dr. G "missed" bleo toxicity (for the sake of argument), there is an abundantly clear demonstration from his notes that he considered the possibility, assessed for it, and made a reasonable argument from his assessment why no further workup was needed. That's so far removed from the realm of "negligence," I have to know what the plaintiff's "expert" was smoking when they reviewed this case.
How incredibly entitled for someone to go after their physician after getting their cancer cured. If his cancer ever recurs, he may regret having blacklisted himself from that practice. Good on the MD for not settling but I wish we had more protections about blatant frivolous cases. At least the plaintiff should be stuck with his own lawyer fees.
Yeah I don't know why the plaintiff was paid anything. One way to stop these nonsense cases is to censure and place the "experts" under review of the medical boards and threaten their licenses for selling out the profession. The only way to protect this threatened profession is to harsher the punishments for these ambulance chasers.
This case was a pleasure to read----at least until I got to the notice that a lawsuit had been filed. Just lovely notes---I would feel completely safe and supported for care in this practice.
Agreed. Very thoughtful and detailed documentation closely tailored to this individual patient with prompt and close follow up and referral out. What a shame the physician was sued for this.
If there is a mechanism by which to alert this physician of the support he is receiving from those reading the case, I think that would be a wonderful thing. We see him, we believe him, we know it is not his fault and we are on his side. It doesn’t stop the BS lawsuits, but it does make our community stronger and more compassionate.
Absolutely despicable that the plaintiff brought this lawsuit! Absolutely no basis - the doctor saved his life and reversed any temporary and expected side effects from bleomycin. This is the kind of litigious nonsense that causes burnout in providers who are already dealing with a stressed healthcare system.
I agree with all of it, but especially assessment #3. Good documentation won’t prevent a case but will likely get you out of it. I unfortunately went through a malpractice case and took it all the way to a defense verdict. I was guilty of bad documentation and likely wouldn’t have been sued had I documented better. There was malpractice in my case, just not me. I was a defendant of convenience. Fortunately, the jury believed us.
I think MMR's first point hits the nail on the head. This is one of the most asinine malpractice claims I've ever seen. I can't believe the plaintiff even got attorney's fees. Would love to see what fault the plaintiff's "expert" supposedly saw in the care here.
So, what I take from this is that a doctor can provide outstanding, evidence-based care, attentive follow up, excellent documentation, and save someone's life from a deadly malignancy, and their thanks at the end of the day is a lawsuit.
Especially disappointing considering how clear it is that Dr. G was eminently knowledgeable, cared about this patient, steered through the curveballs, and saved a man's life. These are some fantastic examples of excellent clinical documentation. Everything about Dr. G's thought process was crystal clear, and a plaintiff's attorney would have to turn themselves inside out trying to impeach it at trial. Even if Dr. G "missed" bleo toxicity (for the sake of argument), there is an abundantly clear demonstration from his notes that he considered the possibility, assessed for it, and made a reasonable argument from his assessment why no further workup was needed. That's so far removed from the realm of "negligence," I have to know what the plaintiff's "expert" was smoking when they reviewed this case.
thanks, the case was me!
Brutal case made me feel miserable for many years. Glad outcome was good.
How incredibly entitled for someone to go after their physician after getting their cancer cured. If his cancer ever recurs, he may regret having blacklisted himself from that practice. Good on the MD for not settling but I wish we had more protections about blatant frivolous cases. At least the plaintiff should be stuck with his own lawyer fees.
Yeah I don't know why the plaintiff was paid anything. One way to stop these nonsense cases is to censure and place the "experts" under review of the medical boards and threaten their licenses for selling out the profession. The only way to protect this threatened profession is to harsher the punishments for these ambulance chasers.
This case was a pleasure to read----at least until I got to the notice that a lawsuit had been filed. Just lovely notes---I would feel completely safe and supported for care in this practice.
thanks the physician was me!
Case was hard for me for several years really made me feel lousy.
Agreed. Very thoughtful and detailed documentation closely tailored to this individual patient with prompt and close follow up and referral out. What a shame the physician was sued for this.
thanks!
If there is a mechanism by which to alert this physician of the support he is receiving from those reading the case, I think that would be a wonderful thing. We see him, we believe him, we know it is not his fault and we are on his side. It doesn’t stop the BS lawsuits, but it does make our community stronger and more compassionate.
Thanks Maya!
I was the physician in the case and reading these words makes me feel better
Aaron
Absolutely despicable that the plaintiff brought this lawsuit! Absolutely no basis - the doctor saved his life and reversed any temporary and expected side effects from bleomycin. This is the kind of litigious nonsense that causes burnout in providers who are already dealing with a stressed healthcare system.
I agree with all of it, but especially assessment #3. Good documentation won’t prevent a case but will likely get you out of it. I unfortunately went through a malpractice case and took it all the way to a defense verdict. I was guilty of bad documentation and likely wouldn’t have been sued had I documented better. There was malpractice in my case, just not me. I was a defendant of convenience. Fortunately, the jury believed us.
Disgusting that this ambulance chaser got his payday. Plantiff's attorney should be referred to the bar for disciplinary proceedings.