Scottsdale Personal Injury Blog

There's a troubling story just in from California. Several unlicensed rehabilitation clinics serving the Spanish-language community are accused of using dangerous treatment methods. The clinics claimed to be affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous but did not use the methods designed by that group. Some 45 people have died and at least two of those deaths have already been ruled homicides.

Although the events took place in California, something like this could easily occur in Arizona or in any state. Unfortunately, deaths associated with unlicensed clinics are rising in California. The Los Angeles Coroner's Office found 35 such deaths between 2003 and 2014, and another 11 since 2014. Arizona authorities also work to root out unlicensed operators.

A Brooklyn woman has sued Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH), claiming that the hospital has a secret policy reserving the right to overrule women's decisions about getting C-sections. She claims that she wanted a natural birth and begged for more time, but her doctor decided on a C-section despite her lack of consent for the procedure.

The policy, which is outlined in an article in the Guardian, allows SIUH doctors to overrule a mother's lack of consent when they determine there is a "reasonable possibility of significant benefit" for the fetus that "outweigh[s] the possible risks to the woman."

In 2012, an Arizona man suffered a traumatic brain injury that made him unable to continue working. Not only did he suffer from physical disabilities, the injury ultimately led to debilitating mental health issues requiring multiple hospitalizations.

He was receiving disability benefits under a policy he had purchased in 1995, when his disability insurance company suddenly stopped making payments, claiming that it saw no evidence of impairment in his medical records. This news -- and his complete loss of benefits -- was financially and emotionally devastating to the man, his wife and their two young daughters.

Cancer, a heart condition, severe arthritis and mental health issues are some of the most common causes of career-ending disabilities. While some jobs can be performed with work condition modifications, the high-functioning business professionals cannot fall back on simple accommodations. Nor can they switch easily to a new line of work.

This is why many business owners, medical professionals and self-employed individuals purchase private disability insurance policies. In the event of a disability, a private policy is supposed to provide benefits if you are unable to perform the duties of your chosen profession. Unfortunately, many disability claims are denied.