Hospitals have a responsibility to protect patients against the consequences of negligent errors. In the past, hospitals were mostly charities, run by churches and municipalities, and you may have contributed time and money to your local hospital. Most people would not have thought of suing their local hospital any more than suing their church.
Hospitals are Big Businesses
Hospitals picture themselves as friendly, open-door places where you can go for care. That is true, and most hospitals do a wonderful job; however, hospitals are also big businesses. The price of a semi-private room plus three meals can cost more than $1,200.00 per day. If you take two aspirin, add $75.00 or more to your bill. Doctors, who work for hospitals, such as x-ray specialists and pathologists, often have contracts under which they receive large fees for services that the hospital bills to your insurance company.
Doctors Employed by the Hospital
Some hospitals employ surgeons and medical specialists, who bill patients for their services as if they were independent doctors. But, the doctors then endorse these payments over to the hospital in return for a salary. These kickbacks may amount to 4 or 5 times as much as the hospital pays the doctor. If you have paid a hospital doctor for x-rays, anesthesia, or some other service, look at the record of your payment to see if it was endorsed over to the hospital. This is not to criticize hospitals, but to show you they work like any other big business.
Funding from Federal and State Governments
Hospitals do not derive all their income from patients and health insurance. Many of them receive funding from the federal and state governments. This is your tax money that hospitals receive for giving you care. If your care was not appropriate, don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s your money.
Malpractice Insurance to Protect Patients
All hospitals carry workers’ compensation insurance for the protection of their employees and malpractice insurance for the protection of their patients. No one challenges the right of an injured, hospital employee to file for workers’ compensation. There is no valid reason why you should not seek just compensation, if you are injured by hospital negligence.
The Rule Is: When you file a medical malpractice lawsuit, you are asserting your legal rights in seeking just compensation from funds that have been set aside as much for your protection as the doctor’s or the hospital’s.
Thousands of patients suffer, due to malpractice, and do not get the compensation they deserve. If you are a victim of malpractice, or your client is a victim of malpractice, contact JD.MD, Inc., today at 800-225-5363. We can provide you with an initial case evaluation or an expert’s opinion.