Clinic Drops Patient & Family Due to Lawsuit

Greg Owen

Attorney

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According to the law of the land, a physician has the right to determine who he/she will treat and can terminate a physician/patient relationship at any time without cause. That is, as long as proper steps are taken for continuity of care. What happened in this particular case is unusual to say the least.

In 2005, Wichita police officer Karie Zimmer filed suit against a Wichita clinic for medical malpractice for which she was eventually awarded $140,000 in damages. Once the suit was filed by Officer Zimmer, the Wichita clinic sent a letter to the plaintiff to notify her that they were severing the relationship of their 100 plus doctors not only with her but with every member of her immediate family.

Although it is unusual for the ban on treatment to include members of ones entire family, it is not illegal. It would be more usual to see a physician refusing to treat a given patient either due to a pending lawsuit or for example, if a patient smoked tobacco and refused to stop the habit.

Keep in mind, there are many situations where a patient's life has been destroyed due to medical malpractice. To refuse treatment to them and/or their families is unfair at best. Although, I'm certain that I would not want to trust my health to a physician who I was forced to sue as a result of sub-standard treatment.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.