Doctor Found Guilty of Elder Abuse From a news story by CNN San Francisco Reporter James Hattori June 12, 2001 A jury in Northern California has found a physician liable for elder abuse because he failed to administer enough pain medication for a terminally ill patient The jury awarded one-and-ahalf million dollars to the patient's family William Bergman's children say they knew the odds were against them in court, but a jury found the doctor who treated their father in his dying days was reckless and liable for elderly abuse because he didn't prescribe enough pain medication Robert Bergman, the patient's son says, "We knew that if we told our story, we told the truth, and um put it in front of people, that uh hopefully they would see where we were coming from and that this did not need to happen." 85-year-old William Bergman, a terminal cancer patient, died in February 1998 after spending six days at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, California Bergman's children say he suffered needlessly because Dr Wing Chin didn't administer enough painkillers Beverly Bergman, the patient's daughter, says, "When you're reckless [and] you're treating a person with chronic pain or intractable pain, there are consequences think that's what the jury said today." During the month-long trial, Dr Chin testified that he followed established pain management protocols Bob Slattery, Dr Chin's defense lawyer says, "Quite frankly I think that the doctor complied with the standard of care, [and] that the evidence that we produced showed that." Family members acknowledged on the stand [that] they didn't directly ask the doctor for more medication Alice Edlinger, Bergman's daughter, says, "We trusted that they knew what they were doing to relieve my father's pain." Advocates for terminally ill patients say undermedication for pain is a widespread problem Jim Geagan a family attorney says, "I think the effect of this is gonna be a tremendous increase in consciousness in California and, I hope, throughout the country that physicians have to make pain management a priority." Bergman's family chose to sue for elderly abuse because California malpractice laws don't allow pain and suffering awards for the deceased The jury award, one-point-five million dollars, is likely to be reduced to 250-thousand dollars to comply with a state cap on awards 1 True or False – Circle the correct answers a.) According to the Northern Californian court, a physician has been found guilty for having refused to treat a cancer patient b.) The patient has been awarded one-and-a-half million dollars by the jury c.) According to Dr.Chin’s defense lawyer the doctor gave enough painkillers to Mr.Bergman d.) In California you can normally be awarded 250,000 dollars if you go to court with elderly abuse complaints e.) A family attorney thinks it will give a big boost to Californians that are willing to sue for undermedication Answer the following questions in one sentence I Why did the family go to court on the first place? II Were William Bergman’s children confident about the outcome of the trial when they went to court? III What was Robert Bergmam hoping for? IV What was the main argument of the defense? V Why did the family sue for elderly abuse instead of undermedication? Finish the sentence with the best alternative 1.) A jury in Northern California has found a physician liable for elderly abuse because a.) he refused to treat a patient b.) he sexually molested a patient c.) he did not perscribe enough painkillers to a patient d.) he gave the wrong medication to a patient 2.) William Bergman’s children thought a.) the jury would not understand their situation c.) their father should have suffered less b.) they would be given more money d.) it was not the doctor’s fault at all 3.) According to a family attorney this trial will a.) make people go to court with minor problems b.) frighten physicians out of the state c.) force hospitals to update their pain management d.) have no effect on people at all Vocabulary liable : A jury in Northern California has found a physician liable for elder abuse not to blame alive responsible guilty terminal : he failed to administer enough pain medication for a terminally ill patient being at the end being at the beginning not serious having to due with wellness administer : he failed to administer enough pain medication for a terminally ill patient to take orders to make plans to make rules to give to someone to take chronic : you're treating a person with chronic pain or intractable pain, lasting a short period of time lasting over a long period of time sharp dull intractable: you're treating a person with chronic pain or intractable pain, not to be found easily controlled not easily controlled not to be changed consequence: there are consequences time idea result plan testify: Dr Chin testified that he followed established pain management protocols to give tests to deny to give proof to work hard protocol: Dr Chin testified that he followed established pain management protocols call sign order practice acknowledge: Family members acknowledged on the stand to deny something to admit something is true to be wise to something funny 10 advocate : Advocates for terminally ill patients say undermedication for pain is widespread problem a supporter an opponent a doctor an accountant