By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On October 9, 2018, a jury in Michigan federal court awarded more than $400,000 to the parents of an international medical school graduate after finding that Pontiac General Hospital breached their son’s residency program contract. The law suit, which has been described as a “pay for play” case, was first filed in 2017 in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, Michigan.
Breach of Contract.
The Canadian family claims the owners of Pontiac General asked for $400,000 in exchange for their son’s acceptance into the facility’s residency program in the fall of 2016. Court records show that the medical graduate received a signed residency contract the same day his father paid the final of three checks. However, it is alleged that soon after paying the fee, the hospital breached the contract by declining to let him start the program, and to add insult to injury, the hospital refused to return the funds.
The eight member jury reached a unanimous verdict and the family was awarded a total of $484,000.
The attorneys of The Health Law Firm routinely represent medical students, resident physicians and fellowship physicians, in legal disputes with their medical schools, residency and fellowship programs, and with the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), and legal representation and defense of charges of irregular behavior. This representation includes internal disciplinary and grievance hearings, administrative hearings, due process complaints, academic and conduct committee hearings, appeals, and civil litigation. Click here to learn more about how we can help you in situations like this.
Contact a Health Care Attorney that is Experienced in the Representation of Medical Students, Interns, Residents and Applicants, Fellows and Those Involved in Graduate Medical Education.
The Health Law Firm and its attorneys represent interns, residents, fellows and medical school students in disputes with their medical schools, supervisors, residency programs and in dismissal hearings. We have experience representing such individuals and those in graduate medical education programs in various disputes regarding their academic and clinical performance, allegations of substance abuse, failure to complete integral parts training, alleged false or incomplete statements on applications, allegations of impairment (because of abuse or addiction to drugs or alcohol or because of mental or physical issues), because of discrimination due to race, sex, national origin, sexual orientation and any other matters.
To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Sources:
“Pontiac General Hospital ordered to pay over $400K to doctor in pay-to-play lawsuit.” WXYZ News Detroit. (October 9, 2018). Web.
Greene, Jay. “Family wins Pontiac General ‘pay-for-play’ residency case.” Modern Healthcare. (October 15, 2018). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
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