Did you just sign a HOLD HARMLESS agreement?!?!?
What was that form you just signed at your doctor's office? A standard form or something a bit more "dangerous"? Was it a "Hold Harmless" agreement?
Hold harmless agreements mean that you absolve people of their responsibility in whatever situation. So have you gone to your doctor's office and signed something that says you will not hold them liable for protecting your information? Or maybe it stated that you will not pursue any legal action against them if your information is compromised.
That could very well be a hold harmless agreement. Now do you really want to hold your doctor "harmless" if his staff loses your personal information? Think about the implications. With identity theft spiraling out of control, do you want to give up the ability to hold him and his staff responsible for protecting your information?
Imagine someone stealing your information from your doctor's office, it's not hard. How many times have you gone to a doctor's office or clinic and walked by the door to an examination room and seen a folder in a box attached to the door? Guess what is in that folder, that's right patient information. Not a very secure move is it? Suppose someone decided to steal information out of that folder. It's not that far fetched. All a thief needs is a white coat and stethescope and most of us would assume he is a doctor wouldn't we.
If we waive our rights to seek redress, what reason does the doctor have to improve security in his office. And what recourse do we have to seek damages?
Before you sign any form it should be reviewed by an attorney. You do not have to sign anything until you know exactly what it says and more importantly what it means to your rights. That is your legal right! Just reading it does not mean you know how signing it will affect your rights. Once you sign it you are legally bound by that contract!
Hold harmless agreements mean that you absolve people of their responsibility in whatever situation. So have you gone to your doctor's office and signed something that says you will not hold them liable for protecting your information? Or maybe it stated that you will not pursue any legal action against them if your information is compromised.
That could very well be a hold harmless agreement. Now do you really want to hold your doctor "harmless" if his staff loses your personal information? Think about the implications. With identity theft spiraling out of control, do you want to give up the ability to hold him and his staff responsible for protecting your information?
Imagine someone stealing your information from your doctor's office, it's not hard. How many times have you gone to a doctor's office or clinic and walked by the door to an examination room and seen a folder in a box attached to the door? Guess what is in that folder, that's right patient information. Not a very secure move is it? Suppose someone decided to steal information out of that folder. It's not that far fetched. All a thief needs is a white coat and stethescope and most of us would assume he is a doctor wouldn't we.
If we waive our rights to seek redress, what reason does the doctor have to improve security in his office. And what recourse do we have to seek damages?
Before you sign any form it should be reviewed by an attorney. You do not have to sign anything until you know exactly what it says and more importantly what it means to your rights. That is your legal right! Just reading it does not mean you know how signing it will affect your rights. Once you sign it you are legally bound by that contract!
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Comments (10)
Karl Rose6
OR the guy who was like the attorney who represented Mike Tyson...LOL. Hey I turn 50 tomorrow. I have been advised by many of the seniors around here to join AARP for $12.50/year. They said there is a LOT OF BENEFITS w/AARP. I reeived the booklet just yesterday and I AM going to be joining very soon. MANY discounts and I MAY even be able to get the legal help done on a pro bono thing. So if the attorney can't really help us then we do NOT ahve o pay. This will ALSO help w/wills (we do NOT have
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Oh yes and I'm not sure how old you are but check with seniors support groups and disability support groups, they may have a local program that can help.
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
I'm sorry about that but it does not surprise me. Most people make too much for aid but not enough to live on.
The only other option that I can think of is to see if you can find a lawyer to work pro bono. Sometimes new lawyers just passing the bar will do this to get experience or get their name out there but you run the risk of getting the guy who graduated dead last in his class.
Karl Rose6
we don't qualify. they say we make too much and we are right around poverty level!!
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
I would suggest a little talk with Legal Aid. Being that you are on disability, you should be able to get in with them for help.
Karl Rose6
We would need to give them a retainer fee(which we DO NOT have) if another attorney(contracts specialists) went beyond their usual FREE consultation. We live in Pennsylvania and I have come to the conclusion that a prerequisite of being a NATIVE Pennsylvanian is that you MUST be STUPID!! If we EVER got any money to MOVE out of this state we would. I have NEVER lived in an area where you can take a 100 mile radius and within that 200 mile circle 100% of the native population of that state are COM
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
That is even worse. Attorneys should work on behalf of their client but it is not always that way and most people still take the word of an attorney as gospel. You can get a second opinion from an attorney that specializes in contractual law. Even worse than having no attorney is depending on one that does not specialize in that particular area of law. A glaring lesson taught by Mike Tyson. Mike went into a criminal trial with a tax attorney and look at how it turned out even in a case wher
Karl Rose6
Our attorneys are social security disability attorneys among other things. We went thru bankruptcy thru them. SADLY they side w/the docs. We discussed our disability situation with them as well. Basically they said we have to do what the docs and gov't says. It's ALL a BIG scheme!! The attorneys get $$$ for our visits as well as the docs and the Gov't screws us by giving them rules that are unfair to the people. Lawyers,docs and politicians are the ONLY ONES who WIN on this!!
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
That is truly sad and why we all need to know and protect our rights. You have the legal right not to sign anything without having your lawyer review it first. Most doctor's offices do not provide you with the paperwork they want you to sign until you show up for an appointment. I would personally have a lawyer look at what you signed and let him know that treatment would have been withheld unless you signed it.
Karl Rose6
THANKS for starting this subject. SADLY for me, I was FORCED to sign one or else NO TREATMENT for my neurological disorder. I receive botox injections to reduce involuntary muscle movement. IN ADDITION, if I DID NOT sign this mt Doc's office would notify medicare AND Social Security. This condition is a 100% disabiling condition. IN OTHER WORDS: BY NOT SIGNING THIS STUPID PIECE OF JUNK, I WOULD LOSE ALL MY RIGHTLY EARNED SOCIAL SECURITY DIASBILITY BENEFITS I EARND WHILE I WAS IN THE WORKFORCE!!