Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania

Is it punitive damage?

I have recently gone to an ER in penn. and the doctor twisted my ear when I asked him if the procedure he was going to do would hurt and he said not as much as this. He then continued to mock me. Can I get punitive damage if he should have stiched me and glued me instead and the wounddidn't heal. There were two other people in the room with me.


Asked on 2/23/07, 1:27 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Arthur Newmark Arthur Newmark, M.D.. Esq

Re: Is it punitive damage?

First, as someone who worked as an ER doctor, let me express my apologies for my colleague�s behavior.

What you�re describing is inappropriate behavior, but by itself, not the sort of action that would support a lawsuit. The doctor is supposed to act professionally, and there is no excuse for mocking a patient.

You might express your dissatisfaction with a patient representative. Think of the patient rep as the PR person for the hospital.

If you�re dissatisfied, the patient rep will generally make the doctor know that they need to adjust their behavior.

You mention a �wound� that didn�t heal. If this resulted in serious deformity or malfunction, that might be a basis for a lawsuit.

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Answered on 2/23/07, 9:20 am


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