Canceling a private doctor’s appointment at the last minute
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Question
Hello.
An appointment was made with a private doctor and he wishes to cancel it a day before the appointment. Does he have to pay for the appointment? And if not, does the doctor have grounds for resentment?
Answer
Shalom u’verakha.
Regarding the payment: if, because of the cancellation, the doctor will incur a loss, for example he could have scheduled another patient for that time and will now be sitting idle, one must pay him as a “poel batel”, i.e., as an idle worker. But if no loss is caused to the doctor, then it depends: if it takes him effort to obtain another patient, the doctor has a legitimate grievance against the one who cancels; and if it does not involve effort, there is no grievance.
Source
Siman 333, se’ifim 1–2
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