And...speaking of lawyer ads...

In another thread, there is a discussion about lawyers seeking lawsuits against DaVinci medicos.

Frankly, that thread triggered a per peeve of mine, but it is much more generalin scope.

Here in Michigan (and I'm sure almost everywhere else) we are totally inundatef with ads to Call Sam or Call Lee Free...or whatever.

These are attorneys. The ad always consists of a bunch of individuals who say something like: "I got injured at work. I called XXX. Best advise I ever got. My settlement: $500,000." Each ad might have 4 or 5 of these little scenarios.

What are we REALLY saying. Sounds like it's: step up to the trough and get yours.

That concept, that everything has to be a lawsuit, is very irritating to me, especially when we have folks who are CLEARLY injured/disabled due to REAL malpractice.

If you disagree with this post, you'd better not say anything or you'll hear from my attorney

Mel

+2

+3

but I have to add that I find the "advocates" equally disgusting.

ed

 

First, let me say that I too cringe when these ads come on. In San Diego, it's pelvic mesh, this drug, that procudere, etc.

Having said that, I have been on the other side. about 15 years ago my neuro gave me contraindicated meds, serotonin syndrome, 8 days of coma, and near death. California was operating under the MICRA law governing medical malpractice. Pain and suffering capped and never adjusted for inflation since 1977. Huge advantages to the insurance companies: judges can override a jury verdict without telling them this can happen, money given by a jury is put into an annuity and only paid on a prorated yearly basis. And more. As my wife was in the process of leaving me for the guy she was cheating with at work while I was disabled, I accepted the final offer. It was at least 100K below what it should have been according to the magistrate. By the time the doctors, attorney, and credit card bills we had been living on were paid off I had virtually nothing. So, when I hear that we're too generous with malpractice awards, my blood boils. All studies I'm aware of show that medical malpractice "reform" does not bring down medical costs at all.

+6, we get them all the time here in Alabama. I really cringe at the DaVinci ones. This is why I have a huge dislike for lawyers in general. The current scam here in Alabama is to get a piece of the pie from the BP Oil Spill law suit settlements. I have had attorneys call me to see if my business qualifies under the class action suit, all they want is to get their 40% from any amount they think I am owed. I tell them to F off.

Terry

Interesting. This lawyer advertising is a quite recent development in Australia. Previously lawyers (known here as "solicitors", a term which in this case is apt) were not permitted to tout for work (other than via a phone book). We are now bombarded with "no win, no fee" advertising by these ambulance chasers. What they do not say is you better have a good case ...... if you do not win you personally are still liable for the other party's legal costs. This puts a brake on most frivolous proceedings. Thankfully though we are still not subject to medical advertising ----- neither doctors nor hospitals are permitted to tout for business. I hope it stays that way.
Bill

Sorry for the typos in my original post. My iPad keeps self correcting. Very annoying.

Think I'll sue them.

Mel

+8
and to think that I was going to be one! A wife, 2 kids, and 3 back to back overseas tours ended that.
Bill