Can a doctor refuse to see you anymore?

Asked by: Edna Erdman I  |  Last update: June 19, 2025
Score: 5/5 (2 votes)

Yes, your doctor can stop treating you for any non-discriminatory reason.

What to do if a doctor refuses to see you?

If your doctor refuses to treat you, stops treating you, or does not follow up on your treatment for any of the following reasons, you might be able to claim medical malpractice. The doctor refuses to treat you because of your race, color, ethnicity, or another legally protected status.

What is it called when a doctor refuses to see a patient?

Patient abandonment is a type of medical malpractice. It comes into play when a physician prematurely abandons a doctor-patient relationship with no notice and/or without a reasonable excuse. There's a fine line, and understanding what constitutes this potentially-devastating act of abandonment is important.

What if my doctor is refusing to see me?

The simple answer is that no reason is legally required unless the doctor is operating under a contract with a third party that requires a listed reason. Other than that, a doctor may refuse to see a patient for any reason or for no cited reason at all.

Can a doctor stop seeing you as a patient?

According to the California Medical Association Physician Legal Handbook, a physician has the right to end a patient-physician relationship without specifying a reason. Typically, however, a physician doesn't terminate the relationship without grounds related to the healthcare practice.

Here’s What Happens When A Doctor Lies

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Can a doctor choose not to see you?

This means doctors get to decide whom to treat, while patients get to decide from whom to receive treatment. Most courts maintain a level of deference towards the free market. As such, absent a consensual treatment relationship, doctors can often refuse to accept or treat patients.

Can a doctor just stop treating you?

At a minimum, if your doctor wants to end the doctor-patient relationship, he must refer you to a physician who can treat you for your unresolved medical problem. Second, your doctor should have a preliminary discussion with you regarding the reason for ending the doctor-patient relationship.

Can you sue a doctor for refusing to see you?

If you are an existing patient who would suffer adverse health effects without continued treatment, your doctor is legally required to provide treatment until you can locate a new doctor. You may have grounds for a medical malpractice case if your condition deteriorates because your doctor refused to provide care.

When can a doctor refuse to see a patient?

The patient is disruptive or otherwise difficult to handle; The doctor does not have a working relationship with the patient's healthcare insurance provider; The doctor's personal convictions, such as a doctor refusing to perform an abortion for religious reasons or refusing to prescribe narcotics for pain; and.

What is it called when a doctor ignores you?

It can even be dangerous because it can lead to missed diagnoses and improper treatment. Here, we'll talk about what medical gaslighting is, how to know it is happening to you, and what to do when your doctor doesn't listen and ignores your pain.

Why would a doctor not want to see a patient?

There are three general contexts in which it is permissible and sometimes obligatory to refuse care: when doctors are subjected to abusive treatment, when the treatment requested is outside a doctor's scope of practice, or when providing the requested treatment would otherwise violate one's duties as a physician, such ...

What is an example of patient abandonment?

Rushing to meet an instructor at a post-care conference without formally turning the patient back over to the nursing staff also qualifies as abandonment, even if the patient is at a large, well-staffed facility.

Can an urgent care turn you away?

Unlike emergency rooms, urgent care centers have no obligation to treat you—and it's perfectly legal for them to deny you care.

What to do if your doctor ignores you?

If you feel like you're not being listened to, find a second opinion or ask the physician to refer you to a specialist. If all else fails, bring a trusted friend or family member to your appointments to help you make your case.

Can a doctor blacklist a patient?

It would be unethical for a physician to put a note in your chart saying,”Do not treat this patient.” However, it is not illegal to note character information in your chart. (Andrew Lawrence Weitz, attorney).

Can I sue my doctor for ignoring me?

You can sue a doctor for medical malpractice for ignoring your symptoms if the doctors actions contributed to damages and the ignoring qualifies as medical error/negligence. To prove cases like this there must be damages. If the doctor just ignores and it doesn't result in injury than there is no case worth pursuing.

Can I sue my doctor for not treating my pain?

The simple answer is yes. A physician may be sued for pain and suffering and other damages. Such a lawsuit typically arises in a medical negligence case, also known as a medical malpractice action, discussed below.

How to spot a bad doctor?

7 Signs of a Bad Doctor
  1. 1 – Poor Communication Skills. ...
  2. 2 – Lack of Empathy. ...
  3. 3 – Rushed Appointments. ...
  4. 4 – Inadequate Knowledge or Outdated Practices. ...
  5. 5 – Disregard for Patient Privacy and Confidentiality. ...
  6. 6 – Frequent Misdiagnosis or Treatment Failures. ...
  7. 7 – Unprofessional Behavior.

Can a doctor refuse to treat a patient without insurance?

Uninsured individuals requiring emergency medical attention enjoy treatment because failing to treat them is illegal. On the other hand, for-profit health facilities can deny services to patients who cannot pay for non-emergency care.

What is the most common reason patients sue their doctors?

Multiple studies have concluded that misdiagnosis is the most common cause of malpractice claims. Misdiagnosis includes failure to diagnose a medical problem that exists or making a diagnosis that is incorrect.

What not to say to your doctor?

10 Lies You Should Not Tell Your Doctor
  • Yes, I'm taking my medications just like you told me. ...
  • Nope, I'm not taking any prescription drugs or supplements right now. ...
  • I didn't eat or drink anything prior to this surgery. ...
  • I actually don't drink that much alcohol. ...
  • Me, a smoker? ...
  • Oh, I don't do drugs.

Is it worth suing a doctor?

Malpractice lawsuits are expensive, time consuming, and can open you up to public inspection. And, unlike most other types of personal injury claims, case trends show a tendency toward favoring doctors and other care providers, not injured plaintiffs.

Can a doctor just drop you as a patient?

California laws allow a physician to stop seeing a patient as long as the decision doesn't involve discrimination or prejudice, but you'll need to follow proper procedures. Without them, the Medical Board of California can charge you with unprofessional conduct for patient abandonment.

Can doctors remove you as a patient?

In states such as California, Texas and Washington, D.C., patient abandonment is addressed in the medical malpractice laws, and significant liability may result if the physician abandons a patient without sufficient notice in advance of termination and injury results.

What to do when a doctor dismisses you?

Don't ask the doctor who is dismissing you for a referral. Your better bet is to find someone on your own, someone who is independent from the doctor who has fired you. Don't complain about the old doctor. It does not move you forward, and may give your new doctor a reason not to engage with you as a patient.