I think it makes the point quite well that negative reviews that have no merit will perhaps have consequences. Here is the article:

May 31, 2018
A Manhattan woman is facing legal troubles after posting a bad review of a local doctor online. Michelle Levine told CBS New York she's already spent close to $20,000 fighting the million-dollar suit, which accuses her of defamation, libel and causing emotional distress.

The plaintiff is Dr. Joon Song, a gynecologist Levine says she visited once in August for an annual exam.

"After that I just got a bill for an ultrasound and a new patient visit, whatever that means, and it was not billed as an annual, and I wrote a review about it," she said.

She said she complained to the doctor's office, but nothing happened. The lengthy critical review said, "very poor and crooked business practice," among other things, and was posted on sites like Yelp, Zocdoc and Healthgrades.

"And I gave them one star on Facebook, which they also put in their complaint," Levine said.

Levine said that after getting sued she took down all her reviews, but Dr. Song still wants her to pay around $1 million in damages plus legal fees.

"It's been kind of a nightmare," the defendant said. "I just have this doctor that's been suing me for a Yelp review and he won't go away."

Dr. Song wouldn't go on camera to discuss the suit, but his attorney sent a statement to CBS New York saying in part: "While everyone is entitled to their opinion, outright lies masquerading as reviews can inflict serious damage to a medical practice or small business."

Legal experts said it's important to choose your words carefully when writing an online review.


Your email...
"Truth is an absolute defense," attorney Steve Hyman said. "If you do that and don't make a broader conclusions that they're running a scam factory, you can write a truthful review that 'I had a bad time with this doctor.'"

Other experts agree it's important not to make broad generalizations.

"If you're going to make a factual assertion, be able to back it up and prove that fact," Evan Mascagni from the Public Participation Project said.

Levine said that she doesn't regret writing her review and will continue to fight to the end if she has to.

Link

This message has been edited. Last edited by: parabellum,

quote:

"If you're going to make a factual assertion, be able to back it up and prove that fact," Evan Mascagni from the Public Participation Project said.

Yup. Calling the doctor's practice "crooked" because you're unhappy, yeah, you deserve to be sued.

Para thanks for the edit. I tried to post the link but kept failing.

Btw, the article's title should have been, Doctor sues patient for $1M for posting negative libelous reviews online.

Apparently, facts do matter.

It sounds like she was billed for some thing that didn't happen and the office visit wasn't billed appropriately. She brought it to their attention and they ignored her. Sounds crooked to me. More information in this article:

"Michelle Levine had her annual gynecological checkup in August 2017 during her first and only visit with Dr. Joon Song. She believed the visit was covered by her health insurance, the Post reported.

But a week later the doctor sent the insurance company a $1,304.32 bill for the visit and an ultrasound, and sent Levine another bill for $427 for preventive services she did not need, she told the newspaper.

“The annual was supposed to be free,” she said."

Link

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
It sounds like she was billed for some thing that didn't happen and the office visit wasn't billed appropriately. She brought it to their attention and they ignored her. Sounds crooked to me. More information in this article:

"Michelle Levine had her annual gynecological checkup in August 2017 during her first and only visit with Dr. Joon Song. She believed the visit was covered by her health insurance, the Post reported.

But a week later the doctor sent the insurance company a $1,304.32 bill for the visit and an ultrasound, and sent Levine another bill for $427 for preventive services she did not need, she told the newspaper.

“The annual was supposed to be free,” she said."

Link

It may very well have been billed appropriately. Oftentimes, when a patient comes in, there is something more going on than what they let on in the appointing process. They may subconsciously realize something’s up and they need to get in, but don’t say so to the receptionist, because it’s just an inkle..
Then they actually get in and start sharing complicating factors, or the doc sees something that takes it out of the “routine/annual” zone. Docs are supposed to bill what they see, not what insurance covers, and they’ve been playing double duty with insurance trying to appease their patients, still treat them medically and be paid appropriately for what they are doing (imho).

I agree, I don’t recall having an ultrasound for a routine annual exam at the gyn’s Office- but perhaps there were complicating factors that brought that instrument’s use into play. The question would be whether the doc informed her of the reasons as to why it was no longer a routine exam..and whether she was paying attention when he/she did..

I’d certainly be interested in how this plays out.

If an ultrasound was performed (which is not clear from the article, but I assume it was or I can't imagine an attorney taking the case), then it is clearly beyond an "annual" exam. Insurance covers annual wellness visits (IE no acute problems, just going over preventative services, like checking BP, skin exam, referral for colon cancer screenings, etc), but if other stuff is evaluated during the visit (Hey Doc, I'm here for my annual check-up, but I think I've got a sinus infection today...), it no longer is an annual check up and is billed differently - usually costing the patient more due to the insurance rules.

Sounds to me like another person who did not bother to read the details of their insurance policy and is taking it out on the Doctor by giving him a review accusing criminal activity. Good for him for suing.

I am sure the Doctor never told her everything was "free". The patient needs to understand the deductible, copay, coinsurance, networks, etc of the policy and EXACTLY was is fully covered on a wellness exam. If they have questions they need to contact their insurance company before having anything done ESPECIALLY and additional testing that may require pre approval or cost a lot more if not done at a preferred provider.

On my yearly wellness exam specific procedures are covered but if my Doctor suggests I have something extra done I have to pay my part.

irreverent and barndg00 brought up a very important point that patients do not realize. A well/annual check-up will turn into something additional, once you started the "Btw, doc, I'm having this pain here". Doc has to address that complaint separately, with whatever testing necessary. It could be just a simple physical exam, or it might need additional blood/radiology testing, but it is no longer just a well visit.

With the scant info from the articles, I can't believe anyone would say the doc was crooked. I can tell you that, if my practice received a libelous review, you bet the reviewer will hear from my lawyer.

What might have happened if the situation warranted a more thorough exam with an ultrasound and the Dr. ignored this? If as a result something serious was left undiagnosed and untreated, would the Dr. get a great review for keeping costs down?

I read this and confirmed from another article that this was her first and only visit to the doctor.

http://www.miamiherald.com/new...rticle212256909.html

quote:

Michelle Levine had her annual gynecological checkup in August 2017 during her first and only visit with Dr. Joon Song.

My ex wife is an internist and initial office visits were always billed at a different and higher rate. This is because in an initial visit she had to do an extensive history and run tests to establish baselines where warranted.

It seems the patient in this case was expecting to be able to visit a new doctor for a routine annual screening. It don't work that way, and is in no way fraudulent. The rates are set by the insurance companies.

It would be interesting to know what this person actually paid for the visit instead of what "insurance company was billed". Speaking from experience reviewing EOBs the "allowed amount" is often much much less than what is billed and then we pay the co-insurance percentage and co-pay (if any) and of course if deductible had not been net yet for the policy year then that can be included too.

I've more than a few physicians buds both male and female.

There are always someone whose dissatisfied.

Always...

Same with mechanics, plumbers, etc.

Partly, that's why I look at reviews of any kind with a rather jaundiced eye.

There are those who complain if you gave them free everything...