Is it malpractice if a hospital refuses to provide surgery to a person with a degenerative spinal condition but only offers opoids instead?
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Is it malpractice if a hospital refuses to provide surgery to a person with a degenerative spinal condition but only offers opoids instead?
My aunt is basically a fit and active woman of 78. However, she has severe osteoarthris of the spine. About 4 months ago, she was in a car accident and her condition has worsened in the past weeks to the point where she is unable to walk and is screaming in pain. We took her to the ER of a noted hospital for surgery. They admitted her but refuse to discuss surgery. They only talk about giving her
drugs, which aren’t working for her. Can they deny surgery based on her level of insurance reimbursement? The doctor’s refusal to discuss her case or even to let her see the orthopedic team seems very suspicious. What can she do?
Asked on May 6, 2018 under Malpractice Law, New York
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
She can go to a different hospital, clinic, or doctor. There is no law guarantying you the right to get the procedure you want from any given hospital or doctor, and hospitals or doctors are not required to treat patients (other than an ER providing emergency treatment to save a life, stabilize a patient, etc.). Medical care providers may refuse to treat if they either 1) feel that it is not in the patient's best interest (which is why they will sometimes not perform surgery on the elderly, balancing the risks and consequences of surgery vs. the patient's health and what the improvement in life quality or expectancy might be);, or 2) there is a concern about the payment or compensation (either how much, or whether it will be made) they will receive for the procedure. Doctor's, hospitals, etc. are fundamentally work (provide medical care) to be paid, and so concern about the level of or likelihood of payment is valid grounds to refuse treatment. But nothing says your aunt is limited to this hospital: she can see is someone else will do the procedure, or she can pay out of pocket on an elective basis.
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