Patient Arbitration Pacts Are Alarming Attorneys
Binding arbitration agreements between doctors and patients -- in which patients waive their right to a jury trial -- are becoming more common, a trend that could put patients at a disadvantage if medical malpractice disputes surface, attorneys warn. A growing number of physicians, nursing homes and health care institutions are asking consumers to sign these agreements before offering services, says Stuart Ratzan of Miami's Ratzan & Rubio.
