Maybe you thought you had the right to bring a lawsuit to establish responsibility and accountability when you or a family member suffers debilitating injuries or death as a result of medical negligence while in the hospital. You get someone else’s medication or blood transfusion…or maybe someone in the operating room leaves a surgical needle or other instrument inside your abdomen during your gallbladder surgery. It would only seem right and fair that you could bring your own claim wouldn’t it? You know that same hospital will sue you in the blink of an eye if you don’t promptly pay their bill in full, regardless of your financial situation.
Nursing homes have been sneaking in arbitration/mediation provisions in their admission agreements for the last few years. These argeements prevent the patient from suing the healthcare provider for negligence. Now a hospital in Pennsylvania, Kindred Hospital of Wyoming Valley, is doing the same thing to its patients. Its wrong…its unconscionable….its an unfair advantage taken by corporate healthcare. Read about the hospital’s new requirement here.
Refuse to sign these agreements. Protect your rights and those of your family. Write letters to the editors of your local newspaper and your representatives about this unacceptable tactic to avoid responsibility. If you don’t …you may live to regret the consequences!