What would you do?

Published

An important question:

I currently do not work in the health care field, but plan to go to nursing school. Several months ago, while working, I was injured.

The doctors that treated me were horrible. While being treated, the doctors tried to do everything in their power to save my company money, at my expense. I was "coaxed" to say certain things (which I was smart enough not to). I was offered wild implausible diagnoses for my condition, other than the fact that I was injured. I was told by a receptionist after having complained that "you had better stop (complaining), you're just making your situation worse". The list goes on.

The company for which I worked harassed me until I quit (I really felt that I had to, and I am a person that sticks things out until the bitter end).

Here's my question:

I have been tempted to report the doctors to the local medical board, and/or sue my former employer. However, I plan gain admission to a local nursing school, and practice in this area. Would either action get me "blacklisted" by schools or future employers?

This isn't really relevant to the question, but it was the most mind-blowing experience at the doctors' office: I walked in and a nursing assistant said "hi, how are you." To this I responded "fine, thank you." 10 minutes later, the doctor said "well, it seems that you are fully recovered." To this I responded that I was not, and asked why she thought this. To this she responded "it's written right here. According to the nursing assistant, you stated that you are doing, quote, fine." I was completely blown away.

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Yes, you should report them. You may have some explaining to do about your actions in the future, but I doubt it if all the information comes out.

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Specializes in CRNA.

Go ahead and sue. It might work. Ronald is getting whacked for 10 million by some creme puff trial lawyer because they put cheese on a hamburger. Different principle but same concept.

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It's doctors and assistants like these that make our profession bad to the public. I definitely would seek a personal inhury lawyer for advise.

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

You also should look into handicap issues, such as "reasonable accomodation". If you even mention it to them, it might make them think twice.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg and hospice.

What was the injury? A little bit more background please. Personally I think way to many people jump on the bandwagon to sue. I think this country is full of people who don't want to accept that accidents happen, people get sick or hurt and most of the time it is not someone elses fault. I do think that there are legitimate workmans comp issues out there, but also I think that people need to be accountable and stop trying to blame other people. I am not saying that this is your case, because you gave limited information. I guess I am using this instance to stand on my soap box, so please dont take it personally. Oh and by the way, I injured my back at work and have since had a laminectomy and a discectomy. I own that if I had used proper body mechanics and/or taken the time to get enough people to lift my patient I might not be in this situation. But I have a mortgage and a life so I forge on with a lesson learned. Best of luck with your situation. :)

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Go ahead and sue. It might work. Ronald is getting whacked for 10 million by some creme puff trial lawyer because they put cheese on a hamburger. Different principle but same concept.

'What? I don't see at all how McDonald's and this poster are related.

The corporation is worth billions and billions and has more lawyers than it knows what to do with. She is, presumably, a bit less wealthy.

I don't know the answer to your question, OP, but tend to think your thinking is probably right, as much as I hate to admit defeat. BTW, are you actually better? What are you going to say if the application asks whether you have ever received Worker's Compensation or been injured? I wish you the best.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Its unfortunate but employers who use workers comp doctors will run you in circles so fast you wont know where you are going or if you have been there and back yet. I know people who have been run from one end of my state to the other to see some worker comp specialist just to be told there isnt anything wrong. At their expense of course. Gas money, travel expenses get pretty high pretty fast. Never mind the fact they cant stand up straight or walk for more than a couple minutes without being in excruciating pain. Its all how the game is played, and usually the employer will win. Unless you have the wearwithall to be more diligent and have more patience and money than they do.

Good luck and i do hope you fell better.

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Specializes in Rodeo Nursing (Neuro).

Any doctor who accepts you as a patient has a duty to put your interests ahead of any other consideration, regardless of who pays the bill. Obviously, this doesn't extend to helping someone commit fraud, but a doctor who tries to trick, persuade, or otherwise beat you out of a compensation claim is not putting your health first, and therefore is acting unethically. That should be reported. A lawyer can advise you whether you have a good case for a lawsuit--I'm guessing there are many who'd be happy to represent you. If it can be shown that the doctor and your employer conspired against you--well, you wouldn't have to worry about paying your tuition!

I don't think you have any need to worry about being blacklisted from nursing school, as long as your conduct has been lawful and ethical. I don't think many nurses have a problem believing some doctors are jerks.

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Specializes in ALS, LTC, Home Health.

Also one thing to consider with workers comp claims. After you see the company provided doctor a certain number of times you have the option to see your own doctor. I had a problem where I broke my thumb and was told by the company doctor there was nothing wrong no x-rays were taken just a visual exam of the thumb which was red and swollen and extremely painful. I knew it was broken cause I felt it snap and told him. He ignored me. Based on my company's policies at the time i had to see him twice and then after that I could seek treatment elseware which I did. I went to my PCP who ordered x-rays and saw the break. Long story short if you feel you are not getting adequate treatment follow the company policy and as soon as you can see your own doctor.

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There is little that my situation has with the one involving McDonalds. I'm not surprised, nor do I fault you, for making the comparison. Our society has become far too litigious.

Though I would like to, I don't want to mention anything about the nature of the injury. It happened under somewhat unusual circumstances.

Though the situation cost me money, I'm leaning away from a suit. Any benefit that might come of a suit isn't worth being labeled as a trouble maker. I am still injured, but I've been around enough to see how HR operates. If things were worse, I might consider legal action.

The real focus is on whether or not to report the doctors' office. An action against a doctor (and there is no such thing as privacy these days) might be seen as a serious red flag by a hospital administrator.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
An important question:

I currently do not work in the health care field, but plan to go to nursing school. Several months ago, while working, I was injured.

The doctors that treated me were horrible. While being treated, the doctors tried to do everything in their power to save my company money, at my expense. I was "coaxed" to say certain things (which I was smart enough not to). I was offered wild implausible diagnoses for my condition, other than the fact that I was injured. I was told by a receptionist after having complained that "you had better stop (complaining), you're just making your situation worse". The list goes on.

The company for which I worked harassed me until I quit (I really felt that I had to, and I am a person that sticks things out until the bitter end).

Here's my question:

I have been tempted to report the doctors to the local medical board, and/or sue my former employer. However, I plan gain admission to a local nursing school, and practice in this area. Would either action get me "blacklisted" by schools or future employers?

This isn't really relevant to the question, but it was the most mind-blowing experience at the doctors' office: I walked in and a nursing assistant said "hi, how are you." To this I responded "fine, thank you." 10 minutes later, the doctor said "well, it seems that you are fully recovered." To this I responded that I was not, and asked why she thought this. To this she responded "it's written right here. According to the nursing assistant, you stated that you are doing, quote, fine." I was completely blown away.

I'm sorry but once you filed a Workers Comp claim and it was accepted, your forfeited your right to file a lawsuit against the doctors. But even if you didn't, what do you think would be the bases for a lawsuit? Malpractice? You would have to suffer some permanent injury as the result of the physician's treatment or lack of treatment. Negligence? Again you would have to be able to demonstrate that the actions or lack of action caused you harm and deviated from accepted medical care.

I worked as a case manager for Workers Comp claimants for all most ten years. In the several thousand cases I handled, I saw only one successful lawsuit. And the injured worker did not sue his employer but sued the manufacture of a gasket that had a faulty weal. And he filed the suit at the urging of his employer and based on an investigation by OSHA.

Most people do not realize that once they file a WC claim and it is accepted they have forfeited their right to sue. This is based on common law and is one of the reasons that WC was put into place.

Woody:balloons:

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