In an article for The Ledger, Ted Babbitt, Babbitt & Johnson senior partner and award-winning Florida personal injury attorney, offers advice to doctors who find themselves in a medical malpractice lawsuit.
The close bond between patient and doctor has been diminished or disappeared with the advent of urbanization and specialization. In some specialties, only sporadic contact exists and they may never have met nor had any extensive conversation with a patient. These factors have caused a rise in medical malpractice lawsuits.
Here is some advice Ted offers doctors who find themselves in a lawsuit:
- “Talk to no one except your lawyer or your insurance representative. Never contact the patient. Whatever you say can and will be used against you. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can be misconstrued.
- Hire your own attorney. While your insurance company will provide you with a competent lawyer, only your own personal lawyer will have only you as their only client. Insurance lawyers depend on insurance companies for repeat business. They will probably only see you once in their lives.
- A competent personal attorney may cost you some money but their services are invaluable if you want to survive a lawsuit without a personal judgment against you beyond your policy limits and the expeditious termination of the lawsuit with the least disruption of your practice.”
Click here to read the full article.