Dennis Rodman’s Family Almost Took Legal Action Against the Chicago Bulls Organization
A Medical Mistake Nearly Cost The Bulls Millions of Dollars
The Chicago Bulls organization dodged a huge financial blow in the 1990s. Dennis Rodman, a key piece to the team’s consecutive championships, almost sued the organization due to a medical error that could have potentially ended his career.
Rodman’s Medical Mistake
During the 1997-98 season, Rodman was experiencing severe pain in his knee. The Bulls’ medical staff misdiagnosed the injury as a simple sprain and treated it with rest and ice. However, the pain persisted, and Rodman eventually sought a second opinion from a specialist.
The specialist discovered that Rodman had actually torn his meniscus, a serious injury that could have ended his career. Rodman underwent surgery to repair the tear, but the Bulls’ medical staff was still not convinced that the injury was as severe as Rodman claimed.
Bulls’ Medical Staff Ignored Symptoms
Rodman continued to experience pain and swelling in his knee, but the Bulls’ medical staff refused to believe that the injury was serious. They continued to treat it with rest and ice, even though Rodman was clearly not getting better.
Eventually, Rodman had enough. He went public with his complaints about the Bulls’ medical staff, and he threatened to sue the organization if they did not take his injury seriously.
Bulls Faced a Potential Lawsuit
The Bulls were facing a potential lawsuit from one of their most important players. Rodman was a key member of the team, and his absence would have been a huge blow to their championship hopes.
The Bulls eventually agreed to send Rodman to a specialist, who confirmed that he had torn his meniscus. Rodman underwent surgery to repair the tear, and he was able to return to the court later that season.
Bulls Avoided Costly Lawsuit
The Bulls were fortunate to avoid a costly lawsuit from Rodman. The organization’s medical staff made a serious mistake in misdiagnosing Rodman’s injury, and they were lucky that Rodman did not suffer any further damage to his knee.
The Rodman case is a reminder of the importance of getting a second opinion when you are experiencing a serious injury. If Rodman had not sought a second opinion, he could have ended up with a career-ending injury.