The nation's largest concierge medicine practice, Boca Raton, Fla.-based MDVIP, has been hit with an $8.5 million jury verdict over the negligence of one of its nearly 800 affiliated physicians, according to a Kaiser Health News report.
The Palm Beach County, Fla., jury verdict is significant for the concierge medicine industry, as this is believed to be the first time any concierge medicine practice has been found liable for the negligent actions of a physician it contracted with, according to the report.
The jury found the physician had misdiagnosed a patient's leg pain, an error that led to the patient's leg being amputated. Not only was MDVIP liable for the negligence of the physician, but the jury also found the company had falsely advertised by stating it had "exceptional" physicians and provided "exceptional" patient care.
Moving forward, MDVIP and other concierge medicine practices will likely be more selective in the physicians they choose to affiliate with, as they may be liable for their actions, according to the report.
MDVIP indicated to Kaiser Health News that it intends to appeal the decision.
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