?specialist build up work!!!!!!!! liability?

[Guest k@lsb]

do any of you repairers require the customer to give a written letter from the hospital or doctor if a customer walks in and asks for a build up on a shoe? just asking because i heard of a case where a customer tried to sue her cobbler for actually starting the build up work he had been doing on her shoes and, according to her specialist, had actually made her hip problem a lot worse, and caused other problems now with her back.

 

i always ask for a written letter, from hospital, or specialist now, just to cover myself, i keep a copy of the letters. better to b safe than sorry. what do u guys do? =D>

[kobblers]

most of the customers i do builds for have been using my service for years so i don't generally ask for letters etc.

 

new customers are very different, i always recommend that they ask the hospital first for the exact measurements, if they insist then i will do the work but only after severely warning them of the risks.

 

i had a woman this week who's dear hubby had measured her for a build up and reckoned it was 3", i fobbed that one off straight away!

 

rick.

[Lee]

When the amended medical devices agency directive come out in around 1997 I used this to tighten up on my procedures. I read completely through the new directives, which didn’t pin point a lot to shoe raises however I found this paragraph and based my raises and alterations code of practice on it.

 

Regulation 2(1) states that if manufacturing is carried out in accordance with a duly qualified practitioner’s written prescription for the sole use of a particular patient and the appliance is not an adaptation of a mass produced device. In the manufacturing cycle of some ‘one-off’ prosthetic/orthodox appliances, it is the practitioner (consultant, prosthetist, orthotist) who undertakes the design of the product and technician manufacturers it to a predefined specification.

 

With that in mind I personally will not under take any (from existing or new customers) raises or alterations with out a letter stating the exact measurements etc. Once I have the letter is goes in a box, and I write the customers details in an address book, which means next time they come in I have all there details to hand, I also write how much I charged the last time and the date. The spin of is that they feel obliged to return to you next time because you have there letter, which helps build customer loyalty. Please consider this is my own interpretation of the situation, may be out of date or incorrect its always best to seek legal advice before acting on any thing written on the forum!

 

Lee

[hibsjo(SCO)]

prescription only raises or we dont touch them

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Just a quicky as they say,

A verbal agreement from the customer will be denied if they have a chance of compensation. Get it in writing every time and keep the signature for some years not just a few weeks.

 

Many Doctors send patients without proper diagrams. The letter usually states left shoe raise by 15mm!!! doesnt tell you where it requires the raise, on the Heel or right the way through. Very vague instructions as they are trying to cut out the Hospital charges for their practices.(at least that's what I think is the reason behind it).