June 20, 2008 – Doctor Falsely Imprisons Patient Over Bill
A doctor and two staff members at a medical clinic falsely imprisoned a patient because they thought she could not afford to pay her bill, according to police. Dr. John Drew Laurusonis and staff members Leslie Ann York and Acquah Alexander were charged with the felony of false imprisonment on Tuesday.
Frances Bales was allegedly locked in an office on October 4, 2007 during a visit to the clinic to receive treatment for arm pain, said police. Bales is uninsured, and her attorney claims that she was initially told that the treatment would cost only $98. She intended to pay the bill in cash, but after the doctor ordered a series of tests, her final bill was $755.
When Bales told the clinic’s staff that she did not have the full amount on her, they locked her into an office and held her against her will for over an hour. She claims she was only released after she threatened to call the police. After the incident, Bales returned to the office and paid the $755 bill in full.
