Am I responsible for costs regarding a botched medical procedure?

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Am I responsible for costs regarding a botched medical procedure?

I just recently gave birth to my first child. I opted for the epidural procedure during labor. I became concerned when I could still feel all pain on the right side of my body. In the next day it would be discovered that the needle was inserted too far and had now caused a spinal fluid leak. After a third attempt to correct the spinal fluid leak, it was brought to my attention that in the first attempt to correct the hole, more had been created. I am now receiving medical bills for these procedures that I would not have needed if the epidural had been done correctly. Are these bills something I can fight against paying?

Asked on October 16, 2013 under Malpractice Law, Minnesota

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

If the additional medical costs were caused by the malpractice, or unreasonable negligence, of a doctor or other medical care provider, then those person(s) may be liable for them. However, the fact that doctor A may have committed malpractice does not mean you do not owe doctor B for medical care he or she provided--however, it does mean that you may be able to recover the cost of that care (including also, potentially, lost wages, if any, and pain and suffering) from doctor A. You are advised to speak with a malpractice attorney to discuss the situation in detail, including which doctor cause you to incur additional costs and which doctor provided the additional services, to decide what to do.


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