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Doctor liable for not providing sign language interpreter

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Again, I am just guessing. But - and this is important - people unwisely get all jazzed up about lower court verdicts that have not been subject to appellate review.
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BB73;1386410; said:
Ans simply stating an opinion on the limited facts of the case doesn't mean that those of us posting in this thread are 'all jazzed up'.

allthatjazz.jpg
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Like I think of you as "people"...
 
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Gatorubet;1386040; said:
I'm just guessing, but the problem conceptually with the docs operation leaving the patient to use family members to help communicate could be a problem in a different circumstance. For example, I could foresee instances of abuse, or neglect, or even privacy issues where a patient would not want the family involved in the patient-doctor/staff communication about STDs or pregnancy. And this doc admittedly did not use the cheaper alternative methods available, he simply decided to forego all other means and use the family to help communicate...
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Right, because a dude in the office interpreting sign language would never tell anyone what happened in there. :roll1:
 
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I'm sorry. I need someone to come to my office and translate this thread into sign language for me. If someone does not arrive within the next two hours, I'll sue (no joke).
 
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Redhawk;1386428; said:
As a physician, my question is this: where does it stop? I often times have patients who can't make it to an appointment because they don't have a ride. Should I provide them a taxi service? Am I liable if something undesirable happens regarding their health because they couldn't make it to an appointment or surgery? What if they work during the day and need that paycheck and "can't" take the time off to come to a visit? Should I provide evening and weekend appointments or just give them my address so I can see them at my house? I don't say these things in an attempt to demean these patients or sound like I'm smarting off. I just question the need to lay this burden on the physician. Perhaps the physician, in these situations, should be reimbursed more for such patients if this is deemed a service that the physician should provide.
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One thing's for certain - you'll go to great lengths before making any house calls. :tongue2:
 
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Redhawk;1386428; said:
As a physician, my question is this: where does it stop? I often times have patients who can't make it to an appointment because they don't have a ride. Should I provide them a taxi service? Am I liable if something undesirable happens regarding their health because they couldn't make it to an appointment or surgery? What if they work during the day and need that paycheck and "can't" take the time off to come to a visit? Should I provide evening and weekend appointments or just give them my address so I can see them at my house? I don't say these things in an attempt to demean these patients or sound like I'm smarting off. I just question the need to lay this burden on the physician. Perhaps the physician, in these situations, should be reimbursed more for such patients if this is deemed a service that the physician should provide.
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Honestly, you have no duty to those people in those situations you list. It is not a mystery why. There are no laws requiring you to do something. You do not have to have a driver's license out of duty to your fellow drivers, there is a law that makes it a duty for you to do that. Likewise, the ADA is also a law that placed a duty on you, this time in your role as physician. No law, no duty. But since the ADA does require some affirmative actions on your part, it is best to know the rules. Now, rules have to be interpreted, and that is a problem, which is why the appellate courts will get involved. But the idea that it is some unknown set of obligations that are arbitray and spring into being is not valid, IMO.

You guys have one of the strongest PACs, a wealthy lobby to get the laws passed for you to your advantage. If that one is unclear, then you need to blame them for letting the law get passed without specificity for how you handle those things. Like it always happens, the case will be reversed or upheld. If upheld, then the law will likely be changed.
 
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