meeting with the hospital attorney next week

[tavalon]

Should I bring my own attorney?

[Batman24]

Bring a lawyer. No doubt about it.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Yes, bring an attorney. It will be the best money you spend. And if you have malpractice insurance it may help the cost.

[JaneyW]

This is why you should carry malpractice insurance. They will cover the cost of YOUR attorney. That alone makes it worthwhile. My husband does insurance defense and his bills are paid for by insurance companies for representing policy holders. He doesn't do med mal, but it is the same concept.

[gregmotz]

Yes I think consulting an attorney is wise. I would also evaluate how life would change were you to throw the hospital or co-workers under the same figurative bus. These attorney driven busses do travel in two directions.

[tavalon]

Thanks. I'm currently looking for a lawyer and will bring him/her to the meeting. Do I need to notify the risk manager/hospital attorney that I will be bringing my own attorney, I wonder?

[JessiD]

I am sure you have already had the meeting by this point, but a meeting the the attorney doesnt call for an attorney of your own neccessarily. I have met with a hospital attorney before and it was nothing more than me telling exactly what happened in a situation. He just wanted the facts written down. But I had followed a reasonable standard of care and the event was unavoidable and did not happen while I was at work. It was just a pt I had cared for on numerous occassions during a 2 month stay. If at any point you become uncomfortable with the situation then you can ask the not speak further until you have an attorney.

[JessiD]

If it is just the hospital attorney you are meeting with and the hospital is not the plantiff this will be the best time for you to judge how much the hospital is going to support you in this case. If the plantiff's attorney is not there there is no reason to bring your own attorney. If the hospital attorney does not seem supportive politely tell them you will need to find your own council to assist you with decisions and you will be happy to meet with him once you do so. If you find your own attorney at a very early stage in the preceedings it may give a false impression that you are guilty or have something to hide. Be honest about everything. And like magz said if you dont remember say that. If you know you did what you were supposed to do tell them you 'Followed a reasonable standard of care.' If you have followed a reasonable standard of care AND can prove that there is nothign they can do. I wouldnt take your own attorney to a first meeting. But I do not know the situation. If its really bad, and you know you were negligent it might be a good idea. If not I would hear the attorney out and give them the information they want.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

tavalon, you have received great support. We cannot offer any legal advice. We wish you well with this.