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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    2

    Default Cosmetic Mole Removal Sent Out for Biopsy Without Consent

    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Indiana

    A year ago my wife went in for an office visit to remove a two moles. The two moles were suspicious and was planned to be sent out for biopsy. While she was in the office, she inquired about removing a cosmetic mole on her eye. They said it could be removed but it might scar or return later. She then inquired about the cost of the procedure and was told that the cost of the cosmetic procedure was $195 for which she agreed to have it removed.

    After receiving the bill, we found that they had sent all three moles out for biopsy. Adding an addition $300 to the cosmetic bill. She has called several times and struggled to get in touch with the right department. Now that the bill is nearing the point of collections, she was able to get in touch with someone who just told her that there was nothing that she could do about the charge. The situation is slightly aggravated by the fact that she had an appt for doctor X, but he was not there and they had doctor Y complete the procedure.

    Is there anything that can be done to dispute the bill. The office stated that she had consented, but DW is not aware of any type of consent as she obviously would not have had it removed if it were to cost ~$500. For what it is worth, there are staff members who recall some of the event.

    Any help would be very much appreciated!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: Cosmetic Mole Removal Sent Out for Biopsy Without Consent

    Without wanting to sound snarky, if it had come back cancerous but nothing had been done you'd be here complaining of malpractice.

    I'd guess she did indeed sign a consent form.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Toledo, OH
    Posts
    16,307

    Default Re: Cosmetic Mole Removal Sent Out for Biopsy Without Consent

    It is generally standard procedure to send moles out for pathology testing. There's no way to determine a mole is merely "cosmetic" simply by looking at it, after all.

    Additionally, if she agreed to have it removed, then she agreed to the testing. This is also standard procedure, it was certainly listed in the generic consent forms I signed when I had moles removed. (Both of which turned out to be cancerous, BTW, in spite of looking "cosmetic".)

    Be grateful she's not ill. Pay the bill, and keep an eye on any additional moles or lesions she might have. Skin cancer is nothing to play with.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Cosmetic Mole Removal Sent Out for Biopsy Without Consent

    What were you going to do with it, keep it as a pet? As pointed out, having removed moles tested for malignancy is standard practice.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Cosmetic Mole Removal Sent Out for Biopsy Without Consent

    I don't understand. They told her it would be $195 and then they up charged her by 400 dollars. My wife had know idea what a "cosmetic removal" was. Those were their words not hers. It is in the nurses written file that the nurse told my wife that the mole was not life threatening and that it would be a cosmetic removal. The nurse recited it to her two weeks ago. The office screwed up and sent them all to the lab. Why do we have to pay for their mistake?

    It's a complete copout on the argument to play the "at least she's healthy' card. Of course that is always the case. If there is no way to tell if it is cosmetic then why does that lab even have a cosmetic removal fee? Also why is the Internet riddled with cosmetic mole removal ads.

    Obviously we are cautious about moles. Clearly we scheduled a visit to remove the two our doctor recommended we get checked. The two that needed checked were clearly raised moles. Looked like a freckle that changed. The one on her eye lid never looked like a freckle. More like a small wart. She has several but only one on her eye that was visible to other people.

    We don't have a problem paying our bill. We have a problem with being misled. We were quoted a price and it is documented in the nurses file. We were lied to. Do we have options? What if it were thousands not hundreds? This is not like the mechanic conning you into changing extra parts. This is the mechanic telling you an oil change was $30 and then billing you $230...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Cosmetic Mole Removal Sent Out for Biopsy Without Consent

    Quote Quoting jryan15
    View Post
    I don't understand. They told her it would be $195 and then they up charged her by 400 dollars.
    You told us, "[she] was told that the cost of the cosmetic procedure was $195" and that the biopsy "Add[ed] an addition $300 to the cosmetic bill", which suggests that the charge was @195 for the removal itself. You have not documented that the biopsy was ordered mistake, or as a result of anything but standard practice for the doctor's office following a mole removal. From what you've shared so far it sounds like a miscommunication, with your wife getting an answer to the exact question she asked but not all of the information she thought she was requesting.

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