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Twice recently at two doctor’s offices while filling out the preliminary sheets I came across the question “have you ever sued a doctor?” I don’t know if this is new but I don’t recollect seeing it on doctor’s forms before.

I have never sued a doctor but I wonder what the results would be if you answered yes. Would the doctor refuse to treat or even see you? What would the doctor do if you asked him if he has ever been sued and if so who prevailed? Is it legal for the doctor to ask this question? I know they can’t legally ask if you have a gun in Florida now.

Enlighten me.

Just don't answer it. None of their business.

Like Keith B just said, and I'll add providing your Social Security Number on their silly personal information sheets... done of their business.

Just answered some questions about if I had recently had a fever of >103F, travelled to Africa, etc.

I wondered if I answered YES, if they could come out in biohazard suits.

They do need your SS#. My Medicare number essentially is my SS#. They do not need to know if you have ever sued a doctor. I would not answer that question. You can look up their lawsuit record on the TMB website. The feds have become extremely invasive about wanting to know what you are- gay, what race, etc. All for a huge database in the sky. As far as I am concerned, not applicable is a good answer for most things but they do need SS# to file insurance. They also MUST have a photo ID.

rotor wrote:They do need your SS#. My Medicare number essentially is my SS#. They do not need to know if you have ever sued a doctor. I would not answer that question. You can look up their lawsuit record on the TMB website. The feds have become extremely invasive about wanting to know what you are- gay, what race, etc. All for a huge database in the sky. As far as I am concerned, not applicable is a good answer for most things but they do need SS# to file insurance. They also MUST have a photo ID.

NO doctor gets my SS Number. It is illegal for them to demand/ask for it. A Photo ID is NOT a legal requirement.

OldCurlyWolf wrote:NO doctor gets my SS Number. It is illegal for them to demand/ask for it.

I walked out of a dentists office when they demanded my SSN and would not relent.
I even offered to pay them in full by credit card if they agreed to just file the paperwork with my insurance.

Them: But we keep all our records locked up.
Me: Never heard of a data security breach? How about a snoopy or malicious employee?


Some people live in a very different reality than me.

Many people are out there using your id trying to use your insurance seeking to get medical care and DRUGS. Doctors need to be sure that the people they are treating are really you and not some phony and just like voter id fraud there is insurance and health care fraud. People trying to get narcotics, etc. I personally don't care what you do. I don't want some junky out there using my name and id getting drugs and racking up hospital bills under my name. Be logical people.

Could someone answer some of my questions?
• I have never sued a doctor but I wonder what the results would be if you answered yes.
• Would the doctor refuse to treat or even see you?
• What would the doctor do if you asked him if he has ever been sued and if so who prevailed?
• Is it legal for the doctor to ask this question?

VoiceofReason wrote:Could someone answer some of my questions?
• I have never sued a doctor but I wonder what the results would be if you answered yes.
• Would the doctor refuse to treat or even see you?
• What would the doctor do if you asked him if he has ever been sued and if so who prevailed?
• Is it legal for the doctor to ask this question?

Not trying to be flip but it's difficult to give satisfactory answers.

1. Depends on the doc and his motivation for asking the question.
2. Depends on the doc .
3.Depends on the doc.
4. Yes.

BTW Since obamacare my doc has been asking intrusive, nonsensical questions. I refused to answer 95% of them. Last month I was in the hospital and the nurse came in and said I needed to answer a few questions.

I told her I wouldnt answer any ignorant obamacare questions. She insisted that I try.

The first question: Do you feel afraid in your home? I flashed and asked her just how did this question apply to the reason I was in the hospital. She answered, please, you are required to answer these questions.

I told her the test was over and forget it. She kept trying and I responded by asking when would I be getting my jello.

VoiceofReason wrote:Could someone answer some of my questions?
• I have never sued a doctor but I wonder what the results would be if you answered yes.
• Would the doctor refuse to treat or even see you?
• What would the doctor do if you asked him if he has ever been sued and if so who prevailed?
• Is it legal for the doctor to ask this question?

Unless you have established a contractual arrangement with the doctor, he/she can refuse to see you unless it's an emergency.
You can look up the doctor's lawsuit record on the TMB website- it's an open record. You can certainly ask though but check before you go.
Is it legal for the doctor to ask? Why not?

I personally find it very wierd that a doctor would ask you about your previous lawsuit history but once a doctor has been through a traumatic abusive lawsuit it mentally changes his/her attitude. Unfortunately it hurts future patient contacts.

I had to have emergency surgery once and my wife was sitting next to me as I was admitted. During the process they asked the, "do you feel safe in your home", and "are there any dangerous situations at home" type questions.

I leaned over and whispered, "she's sitting right here" and the nurse couldn't stop laughing.

Obviously he new I was joking. Or, he guessed right. Either way, my tiny wife didn't get arrested and I had my surgery.

VoiceofReason wrote:Could someone answer some of my questions?
• I have never sued a doctor but I wonder what the results would be if you answered yes.
• Would the doctor refuse to treat or even see you?
• What would the doctor do if you asked him if he has ever been sued and if so who prevailed?
• Is it legal for the doctor to ask this question?

I think it depends on the doctor. Years ago I flat out told a doctor that if the treatment he rendered hurt my child that I'd sue him, and refused to sign a form that relieved him of liability. I couldn't really tell much of a difference, though he may have been a little more careful in dealing with me after that. He didn't refuse treatment.

I think the doctors I go to would answer honestly if I asked if they'd ever been sued but I've never asked. With so many frivolous suits I don't think the fact that he'd been sued, or even sued and lost, would really tell me much. I judge by the treatment I get, not by what someone else thinks they should have gotten.

VMI77 wrote:

VoiceofReason wrote:Could someone answer some of my questions?
• I have never sued a doctor but I wonder what the results would be if you answered yes.
• Would the doctor refuse to treat or even see you?
• What would the doctor do if you asked him if he has ever been sued and if so who prevailed?
• Is it legal for the doctor to ask this question?

I think it depends on the doctor. Years ago I flat out told a doctor that if the treatment he rendered hurt my child that I'd sue him, and refused to sign a form that relieved him of liability. I couldn't really tell much of a difference, though he may have been a little more careful in dealing with me after that. He didn't refuse treatment.

I think the doctors I go to would answer honestly if I asked if they'd ever been sued but I've never asked. With so many frivolous suits I don't think the fact that he'd been sued, or even sued and lost, would really tell me much. I judge by the treatment I get, not by what someone else thinks they should have gotten.

There is no such thing as a form that relieves a doctor from liability from a lawsuit. There are consent forms that must be signed for treatment and these are defined by the legislature. If someone threatened me with a lawsuit if there was a bad outcome I would tell him to hit the road.