Being sued

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

This is not nearly as serious as it sounds

I work acute pysch and the other day I was working in the high care area where patients may go if they are pyschotic/manic and needing a low stimulus area. And its often a step down process if they started their admission in seclusion

Anyhow, our patient was on a smoking regime. That is they only got a cigarette once an hour due to the mania they had a tendency to smoke them all at once and then complain they had none left. 

I was floating from my home ward and I tended to be a bit sort of 'mehh' but wanting to support my colleagues I adhered to the plan they had developed because not my place. The patient understandably was not happy and began yelling at me "I'm going to sue you, I'm going  to sue you for defamation". I had to retreat into the office at that point, mainly because I thought laughing at the patient would be non therapeutic. 

Throughout the rest of the shift the patient would continue to mutter and periodiacally yell at me that he would see me in court and I should be terrifyed. All I could think of was the princess bride. It still makes me giggle

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Nice story! It's funny that patients seem to think if they threaten litigation they can get demands met, and what's humorous isn't always the threat but just the petty crap they want to "sue" over! Of course a little mania or psychosis makes those sue worthy demands either pettier or stranger. The most shocking part of your story to me is that your hospital still allows patients to smoke! 

One of my last days of working psych I had a very psychotic lady convinced that we were plotting with the FBI to have her killed and she wanted me fired, so she demanded that I "Get President Trump on the line right now!" and started throwing chairs and engaging in other violent behavior, as we escorted her to our "quiet" room and prepared some medication for her she just kept screaming over and over "Get me President Trump, Now!". It was sad, she was a sick lady, but it was also hysterical. I've had people demand the president before and claim to be the president but it just tickled me how she kept calling out for him. I always think it's interesting when patients think you have connections to these powerful people to just conjure up for them at will. ?

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Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.

Its more of a giggle here because of our ACC law, it removes a persons ability to sue over health related issues

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

Working in a UK ED we would occasionally get that from a patient; "I'm going to sue you." Stock answer was, "You've been watching way too much American TV. It doesn't work that way here." 

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Oy, the stories!

On of the last that I remember was a psych patient proclaiming, "I'm going to sue you and I'll have your job!"

I quired, "Why not save us both a lot of time and trouble and just take my job?

Please?"

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Specializes in Wiping tears.
On 2/5/2021 at 5:09 AM, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

Nice story! It's funny that patients seem to think if they threaten litigation they can get demands met, and what's humorous isn't always the threat but just the petty crap they want to "sue" over! Of course a little mania or psychosis makes those sue worthy demands either pettier or stranger. The most shocking part of your story to me is that your hospital still allows patients to smoke! 

One of my last days of working psych I had a very psychotic lady convinced that we were plotting with the FBI to have her killed and she wanted me fired, so she demanded that I "Get President Trump on the line right now!" and started throwing chairs and engaging in other violent behavior, as we escorted her to our "quiet" room and prepared some medication for her she just kept screaming over and over "Get me President Trump, Now!". It was sad, she was a sick lady, but it was also hysterical. I've had people demand the president before and claim to be the president but it just tickled me how she kept calling out for him. I always think it's interesting when patients think you have connections to these powerful people to just conjure up for them at will. ?

I feel bad for them, but they're funny at the same time.  I hate cocktail emotions.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
On 2/5/2021 at 5:09 AM, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

Nice story! It's funny that patients seem to think if they threaten litigation they can get demands met, and what's humorous isn't always the threat but just the petty crap they want to "sue" over! Of course a little mania or psychosis makes those sue worthy demands either pettier or stranger.

I work in a correctional facility. I have been sued so many times that I have lost count. Still, some inmates still believe that I will cower in fear if they mention the word lawsuit (the Attorney General represents me, and I have yet to have a case go to court in almost 20 years in the specialty). A couple of responses, one mine, one from a colleague:

Inmate: I have an attorney.

Me: So do I. His name is (name of AG). Your family may or may not have voted for him.


Inmate: I'm going to sue you.

Colleague: Don't use the same attorney that you used for your criminal trial.

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I had a pediatric pt last year and he needed elective surgery (adenoids or something of the sort). Mom signed the consent forms then came storming into the office the next day screaming. All surgery pts are being tested for COVID prior to surgery as a precaution and elective surgery will be rescheduled if positive. Mom kept refusing and I told her we could just push surgery back until after that requirement is over. Mom said she doesn’t believe in COVID testing and the test goes against her religious beliefs. She said we are denying her child major medical tx based on that and she will sue me for religious discrimination. She also said her husband works in healthcare and he knows for a FACT that the test swabs are contaminated with the virus, so every time someone is tested they’re actually being infected. She then said she knows the CEO of the largest pets hospital in the state and they do NOT require COVID testing (they do), so I suggested she use them if she’s that uncomfortable. 

 

Surgery went successfully with my doctor. LOL. 

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
On 4/13/2021 at 4:28 AM, T-Bird78 said:

I had a pediatric pt last year and he needed elective surgery (adenoids or something of the sort). Mom signed the consent forms then came storming into the office the next day screaming. All surgery pts are being tested for COVID prior to surgery as a precaution and elective surgery will be rescheduled if positive. Mom kept refusing and I told her we could just push surgery back until after that requirement is over. Mom said she doesn’t believe in COVID testing and the test goes against her religious beliefs. She said we are denying her child major medical tx based on that and she will sue me for religious discrimination. She also said her husband works in healthcare and he knows for a FACT that the test swabs are contaminated with the virus, so every time someone is tested they’re actually being infected. She then said she knows the CEO of the largest pets hospital in the state and they do NOT require COVID testing (they do), so I suggested she use them if she’s that uncomfortable. 

 

Surgery went successfully with my doctor. LOL. 

I think that poor lady picked the wrong day to skip her Haldol.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I don't recall too many psych patients threatening to sue me, but in corrections of course it was standard practice.

The deputies quit providing toenail clippers when they kept coming back broken.  During one med-pass I overheard an inmate ask "Am I going to get toenail clippers or do I have to call my attorney?"  I thought, well, if your attorney does pedicures, he'd definitely be the guy to call.

One time my coworker was seeing an inmate who threatened to call his attorney.  She retorted:  "Well, you're still here so he can't be that good."

 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I had a patient tell me that they had a attorney on retainer and they could sue me. In my true sarcastic poker playing manner I said "I'll see your lawyer and raise you two!"

Hppy

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
On 2/5/2021 at 11:33 PM, Tenebrae said:

Its more of a giggle here because of our ACC law, it removes a persons ability to sue over health related issues

What is this ACC law? I think we need one. ?

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