Case Study: You are the manager of a medical group practice. Mr. Frederick is a difficult patient at your outpatient clinic. He is frequently a "no-show" for appointments. He also has not disclosed to anyone that he has been having frequent dizzy spells at home. Mr. Frederick's philosophy is that if the doctors knew what they were doing, they should be able to figure out what is wrong with him on their own without him providing information about how he feels at home.
Mr. Frederick had an appointment yesterday at your clinic that he did not keep. Today your clinic received a call that Mr. Frederick was admitted to the hospital with a subdural hematoma due to a fall at home. Mr. Frederick states that he intends to sue one of the physicians at your clinic for failing to diagnose and treat his dizziness. It appears the dizziness was related to an inner ear infection that was identified on his admission to the hospital.
1. What patient rights and responsibilities are involved in this situation?
2. Your physician states that she refuses to see this patient ever again. Does the physician have a right to refuse care? What options does the physician have?
3. Do you think Mr. Frederick has a valid legal claim? What evidence do you have to support your position?