Hulk Hogan Sues Spine Clinic for Alleged Malpractice

Hulk Hogan is suing a medical facility, claiming that the care they rendered him severely damaged his wrestling career.
The wrestler, whose real name is Terry Bollea, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Laser Spine Institute in Tampa, claiming the clinic performed unnecessary surgeries. He is seeking damages of $50 million, reports the Associated Press.
But wait -- there's more. The Laser Spine Institute also allegedly used Hogan's endorsement without his permission.
Hulk Hogan's lawsuit against the spine clinic was filed Monday. It claims the Laser Spine Institute had monetary motives rather than medical ones. As a result, Hogan asserts he was subject to numerous endoscopic surgical procedures. These procedures allegedly injured his ailing back even further.
In a typical medical malpractice case, a patient-plaintiff has to prove damages. This is notwithstanding pain and suffering, which is capped at a maximum amount in certain states. That essentially means that a lucrative medical malpractice lawsuit has to have more to stand on than just alleged pain and suffering.
In addition to being unnecessary, the procedures weren't as effective as advertised, Hogan claims. In simpler terms, Hogan's lawsuit claims that the procedures were bogus and gimmicky. The lawsuit claims that the Laser Spine Institute used scare tactics to convince patients to undergo these procedures. But it failed to inform the patients that these procedures would only provide temporary relief.
A medical malpractice lawsuit can't be successful if the sole complaint is that the treatment failed to solve the patient's problem. The actions of the doctor typically have to deviate from the generally accepted standards of practice.
The Laser Spine Institute has not commented on Hulk Hogan's lawsuit, citing patient privacy protections.
Related Resources:
- Hulk Hogan, Bubba the Love Sponge Settle Sex-Tape Lawsuit (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
- Medical Malpractice In-Depth (FindLaw)
- Medical Malpractice: Who Can Be Sued? (FindLaw)