You didn’t expect a doctor to ignore you. You came in needing help—maybe in pain, maybe scared—but instead of receiving the care you needed, the doctor sent you away. Now you’re left asking: Was that even allowed? Can I sue a doctor for not treating me?
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Doctors take an oath to do no harm, but that doesn’t mean they always do the right thing. Some refusals are legal, but others cross a line. When a doctor refuses to treat someone in a way that violates medical standards, hospital policies, or federal law, they should answer for that decision.
No one should be left without answers, especially when their health is on the line. Call Pierce Skrabanek at (832) 690-7000 for a free case review.
Doctors don’t have to treat every person who walks through their door. Private practice physicians set their schedules, choose which cases they accept, and can turn patients down for various non-discriminatory reasons. A doctor may legally refuse to treat someone if:
Hospitals, urgent care centers, and walk-in clinics have different obligations. While private doctors have more discretion, medical facilities that receive public funding must follow stricter rules. Emergency rooms, for example, must provide urgent medical care and cannot deny treatment based on a patient’s insurance status.
The American Medical Association also provides ethical guidelines that state doctors should not refuse treatment in ways that put a patient’s health at risk. When a refusal goes beyond ethical or legal boundaries, they may be violating their duty to the patient.
Some refusals are legal, but others put lives at risk. A doctor who turns away a patient for the wrong reasons—violating federal law, disregarding medical ethics, or walking away from an established relationship—must be held accountable.
Hospitals that accept Medicare and Medicaid funding must follow strict rules about emergency care. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requires emergency rooms to treat anyone experiencing a medical emergency, regardless of their ability to pay. This means a hospital cannot deny treatment to a patient suffering from a heart attack, severe injuries, or any life-threatening condition. If an ER refuses to treat someone who needs urgent care, the hospital is violating federal law.
Federal laws protect patients from discrimination in medical settings. A doctor cannot refuse treatment based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. The American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics also states that doctors should not refuse care based on personal biases or non-medical reasons that could harm a patient’s health. When a doctor refuses to help someone due to discrimination, they are not only acting unethically—they are breaking the law.
Once a doctor agrees to treat someone, they cannot abruptly stop care without warning. A doctor who drops a patient without giving them time to find another provider may be guilty of patient abandonment. In serious cases, this can lead to harm when a person is left without the medical help they need. If a doctor withdraws from a case without a valid reason, and the patient suffers because of it, the doctor bears responsibility for that harm.
Some doctors don’t just refuse treatment—they dismiss, downplay, or flat-out ignore a patient’s concerns. That refusal isn’t always about legal requirements or ethical dilemmas. Sometimes, it’s about arrogance, bias, or putting profit before patients.
Some doctors dismiss symptoms, blame stress, or tell patients their concerns aren’t real. Women and people of color are more likely to experience this, leading to undiagnosed conditions and worsening health. A person might leave an appointment thinking they overreacted—only to end up in an emergency room days later.
Not every doctor takes the time to listen. Some assume an issue is minor without fully investigating it. For example, a patient who describes chest pain might be told it’s acid reflux when it’s really a heart problem. A persistent cough might be waved off as allergies when it’s actually something more serious. When doctors misdiagnose a condition or dismiss symptoms without proper evaluation, they put people in danger.
Medical facilities aren’t just places of healing—they’re businesses. Some hospitals and clinics refuse to treat patients without insurance or the ability to pay upfront, even when those patients need help. Others rush people out the door to maximize turnover and keep revenue flowing. No one should be denied care because of a financial decision made behind closed doors.
Being dismissed or turned away by a doctor isn’t just frustrating—it puts a person’s health at serious risk. Can you sue a doctor for not treating you? When a refusal to treat leads to preventable harm, it may amount to medical malpractice.
Doctors are supposed to provide care, not turn people away when they need help. If a doctor refuses to treat you, and you suffer as a result, you may have a case. Call Pierce Skrabanek at (832) 690-7000 or fill out our online form to learn whether you can sue a doctor for refusing to treat you.
Doctors are expected to make decisions in the best interest of their patients, but that doesn’t always happen. Some turn people away without a valid reason, leaving them without the medical help they need. You can sue when a doctor refuses to treat you in a way that violates medical standards or ethical obligations. But can you sue a doctor for not treating you in every case? The answer depends on the circumstances.
Holding your doctor responsible for denying care comes down to three factors:
Doctors have the power to help—but some choose not to. When that choice breaks the law, violates medical standards, or leaves someone in a worse condition, they should be held responsible.
Doctors and hospitals won’t admit fault easily; refusing care often comes with excuses. Proving medical malpractice means showing that a doctor’s decision to deny treatment directly led to harm. A strong case relies on solid evidence, including:
Hospitals and insurance companies will argue that a doctor had a valid reason for refusing treatment. Still, when someone’s health suffers because they were turned away, the facts tell a different story.
Every state has a time limit for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, known as the statute of limitations. Some states give victims a few years to take action, while others set much shorter deadlines. In some instances, exceptions exist—like when a patient doesn’t immediately realize the harm caused by a doctor’s refusal to treat them.
Medical malpractice cases take time to build. Hospitals and doctors have legal teams that will try to delay or dismiss claims, and evidence needs to be gathered before it disappears. Witnesses forget details, medical records become harder to access, and waiting too long can make proving a case more difficult. Acting sooner rather than later helps ensure the facts are documented while still fresh.
Doctors and hospitals don’t always play fair. They have legal teams ready to protect them when things go wrong. Patients deserve the same.
Pierce Skrabanek represents people who have been dismissed, ignored or turned away when they needed care. Our firm has taken on major hospitals and healthcare institutions and secured millions for clients harmed by medical negligence.
Lawsuits against doctors and hospitals can be complicated, but we don’t back down. Our team moves fast, builds strong cases, and doesn’t let big healthcare corporations push people around.
There’s no cost to call, no fees unless we win, and no reason to wait. If a doctor refused to treat you and it led to harm, call (832) 690-7000 for a free case review today.
