From: Simon Young, DPM
I truly feel for Dr. Lawrence's plight, and hope I am never in such a situation. Once he signed on the dotted line without proper legal representation, the ball game was over. Even if you donate your services, you still must follow state law and are liable for the consequences.
After 35 years in practice, it's sad to hear that he didn't have enough resources to hire an attorney. Was Legal Aid, PICA, or a state society lawyer available to guide him (at a discounted rate) through his travail. Nevertheless, no one should ever sign such a legal document at any cost without some sort of legal representation and without understanding the consequences. Your side of the story is moot, and you need to be aware of collateral potential damage which might follow. I wish Dr. Lawrence the best.