Medical malpractice is both a frightening term and dangerous behavior. Patients who suffer from malpractice can face living with scars and disfigurement, brain damage or other long-term injuries. Sometimes, patients have to undergo additional surgeries to correct medical mistakes.
Another kind of malpractice that is currently being discussed in the media is VIP syndrome. This “syndrome” is not a syndrome at all; it is, in fact, what happens when a medical professional treats a patient negligently or in a different way because of the patient’s fame or wealth.
It’s no secret that the wealthy and famous often receive special treatment from medical providers. Health care professionals can become star-struck, just like anyone else, and that can lead to mistakes. For example, when Joan Rivers went to the clinic to have an outpatient procedure, she ended up dying. Later, it was found that one doctor had taken a photo of her on the operating table, a breach of protocol and patient privacy laws.
Another well-known individual, Eleanor Roosevelt, may have also suffered and been misdiagnosed because of this syndrome. She died from tuberculosis, but it was a misdiagnosis that led her to receiving steroids that lowered the immune response that could have helped her survive. She was allegedly opinionated and had many doctors on the case, and this led to challenges in her care.
If VIP syndrome may be a factor in your case, it’s important to seek the legal help you need. It’s not a common event, but showing that your care wasn’t up to the standard it should be can help you win a case against your medical provider.
Source: FoxNews Health, “When stars seek medical care, risk of ‘VIP Syndrome’ looms,” June 13, 2016
