Arbitration contract – English
PHYSICIAN-PATIENT ARBITRATION AGREEMENT
Article 1: Agreement to Arbitrate: It is understood that any dispute as to medical malpractice, that is as to whether any medical services rendered under this contract were unnecessary or unauthorized or were improperly, negligently or incompetently rendered, will be determined by submission to arbitration as provided by California law, and not by a lawsuit or resort to court process except as California law provides for judicial review of arbitration proceedings. Both parties to this contract, by entering into it, are giving up their constitutional right to have any such dispute decided in a court of law before a jury, and instead are accepting the use of arbitration. Article 2: All Claims Must Be Arbitrated: It is the intention of the parties that this agreement shall cover all claims or controversies whether in tort, contract or otherwise, and shall bind all parties whose claims may arise out of or in any way relate to treatment or services provided or not provided by the below identified physician, medical group or association, their partners, associates, associations, corporations, partnerships, employees, agents, clinics, and/or providers (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Physician”) to a patient, including any spouse or heirs of the patient and any children, whether born or unborn, at the time of the occurrence giving rise to any claim. In the case of any pregnant mother, the term “patient” herein shall mean both the mother and the mother’s expected child or children. Filing by Physician of any action in any court by the physician to collect any fee from the patient shall not waive the right to compel arbitration of any malpractice claim. However, following the assertion of any claim against Physician, any fee dispute, whether or not the subject of any existing court action, shall also be resolved by arbitration. Article 3: Procedures and Applicable Law: A demand for arbitration must be communicated in writing by U.S. mail, postage prepaid, to all parties, describing the claim against Physician, the amount of damages sought, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the patient, and (if applicable) his/her attorney. The parties shall thereafter select a neutral arbitrator who was previously a California superior court judge, to preside over the matter. Both parties shall have the absolute right to arbitrate separately the issues of liability and damages upon written request to the arbitrator. Patient shall pursue his/her claims with reasonable diligence, and the arbitration shall be governed pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure §§ 1280-1295 and the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1-4). The parties shall bear their own costs, fees and expenses, along with a pro rata share of the neutral arbitrator’s fees and expenses.
Article 4: Retroactive Effect: The patient intends this agreement to cover all services rendered by Physician not only after the date it is signed (including, but not limited to, emergency treatment), but also before it was signed as well.
Article 5: Revocation: This agreement may be revoked by written notice delivered to Physician within 30 days of signature and if not revoked will govern all medical services received by the patient.
Article 6: Severability Provision: In the event any provision(s) of this Agreement is declared void and/or unenforceable, such provision(s) shall be deemed severed therefrom and the remainder of the Agreement enforced in accordance with California law. I understand that I have the right to receive a copy of this agreement. By my signature below, I acknowledge that I have received a copy. NOTICE: BY SIGNING THIS CONTRACT YOU ARE AGREEING TO HA VE ANY ISSUE OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DECIDED BY NEUTRAL ARBITRATION AND YOU ARE GIVING UP YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY OR COURT TRIAL. SEE ARTICLE I OF THIS CONTRACT.
A signed copy of this document should be given to the patient. The original copy will be archived in the patient’s medical file.