Rhoda Cummin went to Gladness Clinic in Las Vegas to get a prescription for an o

Question

Rhoda Cummin went to Gladness Clinic in Las Vegas to get a prescription for an oral contraceptive.  Her medical history put her at a high risk of a stroke from the use of birth control pills.  She did not know this, but her medical records and history would have alerted an obstetrician to the risk.  She obtained a prescription for the pills, and began taking them.  Six months later she suffered a cerebral incident (stroke) that left her partially paralyzed.

Ms. Cummin hired a lawyer to sue the clinic.  The investi­gation reveals that the clinic was negligent in prescribing the contraceptive in light of Ms. Cummin's history.  A negligence suit is filed.  The clinic responds with a motion to stay the lawsuit pending arbitration and for a court order compelling arbitration.  Their affidavit states that the clinic requires all patients to sign an arbitration agreement before receiving treatment.  This agreement provides that all disputes must be submitted to binding arbitration and the parties waive their right to a trial.  The clinic receptionist hands the agreement to the patients along with explanatory materials and informs each one that any questions will be answered.

Ms. Cummins states she does not remember signing the agreement or having it explained and her lawyer files a re­sponse to that effect.

A judge is assigned to this suit, Please what could be the response to the clinic's motion and include the rational behind decision to be taken

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

A judge is assigned to this suit, the response to the clinic's motion and include the rationale behind decision to be taken is as below

The response to clinic’s motion is that the agreement will be reviewed for signed off between Ms. Cummins. If the agreement is signed off, then the decision will go in favor of clinic.

But still the clinic cannot have a agreement to signed off and give the medicine for the patients which impacts them and later have serious health problems like stroke and paralyzed. So the lawsuit of negligence will run against the clinic and the judge will take the rationale for making the decision.

Based on the health issue happened with Ms. Cummins, the judge will take the decision in favor of Ms. Cummins, because it is the medicine prescription of the clinic which resulted in the stroke and paralyzed her. So the decision will go in favor of Ms. Cummins.

The law will support Ms. Cummins, as she had suffered badly due to improper prescription written by the clinic for her, due to the negligence of the clinic. So clinic need to have the liability for the case.

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