Police: Clinic workers imprisoned patient who couldn't pay


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/20/08

Staffers at a Duluth medical practice shuttered their office Friday amid charges of false imprisonment for allegedly locking a patient in a room when concerns arose about her ability to pay the bill.

Dr. John Drew Laurusonis and office assistants Leslie Ann York and Alexander Acquah of the Doctors Medical Center were indicted this week. The three face arraignment July 3 on the charge.

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Police say Frances Bales, 36, of Duluth, was held against her will on Oct. 4, 2007, when she went to the clinic seeking treatment for arm pain.

An attorney for Laurusonis denied on Friday that the internal medicine practitioner did anything illegal.

"I'm really sad that a good man got indicted for not committing a crime," said Lawrenceville-based attorney Richard Ryczek. "I think this will be resolved in his favor."

Staffers at the clinic in a busy Duluth shopping center locked up Friday as news reporters approached. Calls to York and Acquah for comment were not returned.

Bales' attorney, Joseph Fried, said Friday she was told initially that the visit would cost $98. Bales had been visiting from out-of-state and didn't have health insurance, Fried said.

"They took her debit card and her driver's license at the reception desk," Fried said. "She figured with X-rays it might be a little more."

Instead, after tests, Bales was charged $755, Fried said.

"She says, 'I don't have the money,' " Fried said. "They direct her to go into what they called their billing office." For several hours, the staff refused to allow her to leave, locking her in for periods of time, Fried said. They had her log into her bank records from a computer while she was there, he said.

"They said, 'Don't you have anyone who loves you who can come and help you? Because you're not leaving until this bill is paid,' " Fried said. "They made her feel like she was a criminal. She was made to feel like she couldn't leave without something bad to happen to her."

At one point, they allowed her to go to her truck to get a paycheck, but held her keys while she looked, unlocking the vehicle's doors with the electronic key fob on the keychain, Fried said.

Fried described Bales' personality as less assertive than other people. Laurusonis's attorney Ryczek took that a step further, saying Bales could have left when she wanted.

"She did leave the room several times," Ryczek said. During a warrant application hearing, Bales said that there was a door that didn't have a lock, Ryczek said. Patients are told in advance that they are responsible for settling their bills before they leave, and that the clinic's charges are reasonable and customary, Ryczek said.

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Comments

By tsfan

Oct 8, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

ilucrr, get YOUR "facts" straight! You know nothing obviously!!!

By ilucrr

Aug 23, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

TO ALL
Indeed, there ARE two sides to every story. I will say I agree with everyone saying this man is a quack, because he is. He is extremely aggressive and is power hungry. He is mean and belittling to his employees. This man is also extremely disrespectful. With all that said, reading this story, I am still shocked by how little truth there is to it.
FACT Frances Bales was told the initial fee was $98.00 PLUS any other additional fees such as xrays or test, etc. ALSO, there are signs on every wall stating that a patient may ask for pricing at ANY TIME, and balance is due at time of service.
FACT There are no locks on the doors. So Frances Bales was never locked in any room at any time. In fact, she left approximately twice to smoke a cigarette. So, to say she was locked in a room is completely false. Going along with what Ryczek says: YES, she could have left at anytime.
FACT Frances Bales was NEVER asked to log on her bank account. She did that free willingly to show that she truly only had a certain amount, which is what her debit card was ran for, with her permission.
FACT Her keys were NEVER kept from her. She had them, as well as her purse by her side at all times.

I think the majority of you need to get the TRUTH of the story, not the media's side. Justice does need to be served to the Doctor, because he has done this several times. But the other two employees should not be held accountable for only following the Doctor's policies.

By Eric

Jun 24, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this

I had at least six or seven X-rays taken recent and I don't think they billed more than $250 for that work. These people are scum and should lose their business over their criminal behavior.

By overpriced

Jun 24, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

700+ bill? Did she get a cast made of gold?

By Joe

Jun 24, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

For those who are complaining about her receiving services from the doctor and not paying for them:

1. The patient got a quote of $98 from the Dr's office.

2. After getting the services, she got a bill that was significantly more than what she was quoted.

3. They imprisoned her in their office.

Consumers have to quit being sheep. If you were quoted one price and billed another, you don't simply pay it and leave. You contest it.

By Matt

Jun 24, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

We all read the story. Why are you posting a quote from it without comment?

By web design company

Jun 24, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

FTA: "She says, 'I don't have the money,' " Fried said. "They direct her to go into what they called their billing office." For several hours, the staff refused to allow her to leave, locking her in for periods of time, Fried said. They had her log into her bank records from a computer while she was there, he said.

"They said, 'Don't you have anyone who loves you who can come and help you? Because you're not leaving until this bill is paid,' " Fried said. "They made her feel like she was a criminal. She was made to feel like she couldn't leave without something bad to happen to her."

By Matt

Jun 24, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

IF the charges had been properly disclosed to the lady BEFORE she incurred them, then the proper response would have been to detain her (which is legal - just long enough to wait for the cops), immediately call the police and file theft of services charges. Just like if she tried to skip on a restaurant bill. By holding her and not calling the police immediately, they'll probably lost both the business and the right to practice medicine.

By chris holcomb. 328-6729

Jun 22, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

what a crock of crap!

By GB

Jun 22, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this

What a shame. My daughter was in a doc's office yesterday. They gave her grief about an amount they said she owe. . . . she doesn't. She is paying COBRA since leaving her employment and there was a lapse in coverage until everything got straighten out . . and then coverage was update to show continuous coverage. In the meantime three claims from her pediatrician's office was submitted and processed . . no coverage. I had just called her health insurance provider the day before . . and they were going to reprocess the claims in question. Her pediatricians office said she couldn't leave until she paid. . .she had no money with her and she called me. I told her to tell them what had happened and that I had talked to the insurance carrier the day before; that she had no money and then just walk out. They told her if this wasn't paid the next time she came back they would not see her. . we're talking about $93. What a sad situation. Folks on Medicaid don't have to endure this kind of treatment!!!!

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