Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Illinois

I went to a dentist about a year ago, for oral surgery. Two root canals, and extraction, and basically replacing all of my fillings, is what we came to agree upon for the surgery.

He quoted the price at about $5,000, I cringed, so he agreed that we'd split the surgery down the middle of my mouth. Essentially taking care of the most important things first, then doing half of my mouth on one visit, waiting until my dental coverage kicked back in, then doing the other half when I'd hopefully paid most of the balance from the credit card I had to get.

When the nine hour surgery was over, I come to find my whole mouth had been fixed, which is not what we agreed upon.

They also slapped me with the whole bill, and gave me little to no contact about how they would fix the problem financially.

I've since then ignored their bills, because I cannot afford them at this time... and don't know what to do if this problem shows its way to the surface again.

I don't know that I have evidence besides the employees and my family of the agreement. All I know is that I had far more surgery that day than any one expected...

What should I do?

Has it been too long?


Asked on 1/20/11, 2:02 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

Since this was an oral contract, you have some time, but since it was not in writing, it's a problem. Perhaps you should sit with an attorney to see if there is more to the situation that would help the attorney write a letter to see if the dentist will work with you on both compromising the bill now and giving you time to pay it. Ignoring someone who effectively corrected a situation that could have been fatal (dental sepsis is a real killer) is not exactly the best way to handle the situation.....

Read more
Answered on 1/25/11, 8:34 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Medical Malpractice Law questions and answers in Illinois