Signing away legal rights to see an MD in CA.

[speeder]

I've noticed on two medical appts. this week in Los Angeles that part of the package of forms a new patient is required to sign involves a waiver that states that you, the patient, agree to arbitration in any malpractice dispute and relinquish your right to a jury trial.

Two things spring to mind; the first is that it's not worth the paper it's printed on and like all such waivers is designed to fool stupid people into thinking they've signed away their rights to sue. The second is that malpractice insurance carriers are requiring MDs to present new patients w this form.

The first time it happened, (last week), I declined to sign it and the office staff just dismissed the issue and I saw the doctor. This morning it happened again and when I told them I would not sign it without educating myself about it first, the appointment was mutually canceled on the spot. There was a minor hassle when I removed all of the papers w my personal info from the clipboard and they did not want me to take them with me. It was settled when they shredded them in front of me.

Hey- all it had was my full name, address, ss#, DL#, photocopy of my DL and insurance card, etc... NBD.

Is this required to see a doctor now? Any experience w this, or better yet, actual lawyer advice? I left a message for a couple of trusted attorneys, waiting for response. I know that in general, waivers such as this are completely bogus and are designed to trick uneducated people into thinking they cannot sue, so they don't try. If it only works once, it's worth its weight in gold for the doctor.

And fwiw, I've never sued a medical provider, including once when I could have walked away w a very nice settlement.

[Tobra]

No it is not required by malpractice insurance. Yes it is becoming more common. No, it is almost certainly not binding.

[red-beard]

Reminds me of when I went through a lease and started crossing out sections. They signed. I did the same with a bank loan and they said, no thanks.

[LakeCleElum]

I can sign "REFUSED" and make it look sorta like normal signature....

[Ronbo]

Also look for arbitration agreements in new car sales paperwork.

[McLovin]

Just be careful, sometimes among all those waivers and releases they'll try to slip in a Model's Release. Sign that and you'll end up like this.

[coldstart]

"That's totally inappropriate. It's lewd, vesivius, salacious, outrageous!"

As a Canadian, I have nothing useful to add to this discussion other than humor. Humerus.

[legion]

Just remember, lawyers have made sure that signing a paper saying you can't use a lawyer isn't actually legally binding.

[GH85Carrera]

There is NO need whatsoever to give them your Social Security number unless it is also your medicare number.

Only your bank and employer NEED to have your SS number. I tell anyone else my SS number is 555-55-5555

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

There is NO need whatsoever to give them your Social Security number unless it is also your medicare number.
Only your bank and employer NEED to have your SS number. I tell anyone else my SS number is 555-55-5555

I'd like to be true, but I've been contacted on denied medical ins. payments for doctor visits a few times when they had my SSN wrong by one digit...

I do agree with you though, it's insane. Our private info so out there that it takes minor breaches for your info to be in the wrong hands - doctor's office is not exactly as secure as a big company encryption policy..

Hell someone filed my taxes for me last year, I wonder where all that info came from? the doctor's, Target, my bank, my 2 previous employers, all of which had breaches...

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

There is NO need whatsoever to give them your Social Security number unless it is also your medicare number.

Only your bank and employer NEED to have your SS number. I tell anyone else my SS number is 555-55-5555

Yup.

I fill in my name / date and any relevant health info.

I've walked out of a few places that insisted on more.

Most recently a chiropractor who'd already spent an hour doing her initial consult.

Front office staff insisted their billing system absolutely required a SS#.

Oh, well, sorry, have a nice day, if you get that fixed let me know, bye.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I'd like to be true, but I've been contacted on denied medical ins. payments for doctor visits a few times when they had my SSN wrong by one digit...

Is your SS used as your member ID?

If not they don't need it and you should not be providing it.

[speeder]

Thanks, all. The whole identity theft deluxe package deal sets my alarms off big time. If their system got breached or someone in the office has a shady boyfriend who needs a new identity, (or just traffics in that sort of thing), it could be a disaster.

I guess I'll just sign those arbitration agreements from now on because they're bogus. I need to see some doctors right now.

[bivenator]

I black out the ss# that I see on the forms filled out by our patients. Your suspicions are well founded regarding the security of your personal information at docs office. While I haven't seen it done at my current place, I am aware of two instances elsewhere.

When in the restaurant/bar business it was even more sketchy. Never ever give the bartender your credit card to hold to start a tab.

[Tobra]

I hope you don't have anything too serious you need to consult with a physician about. If you do, don't mess about too long. It is getting quite difficult to find a new primary care doctor around here, particularly if you have Medicare.

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

There is NO need whatsoever to give them your Social Security number unless it is also your medicare number.

Only your bank and employer NEED to have your SS number. I tell anyone else my SS number is 555-55-5555

This. With the advent of electronic medical records, it has become much more of a risk. As health insurance becomes more connected to income taxes, I suspect it will get worse.

[jorian]

Another argument for tort reform.