Medicolegal Issues
Law & Medicine
Not All Stool Discussions Are Unproductive
Some patients want you to “read” their stool as if it’s tea leaves. You may be tempted to tune out during these descriptions—but in some cases,...
Law & Medicine
Stay Informed About Informed Consent
Missing a diagnosis—even in the absence of negligence—can have a devastating impact on the patient, and it can be costly for you in other ways.
Law & Medicine
Don’t Take the Fall With Head Injuries
Knowing when to order imaging to assess for a head injury can save a life—and keep you out of a courtroom.
Medicolegal Issues
Don’t Be a Maverick; Get a Wingman
Learn to welcome second opinions—they help protect you, your career, and most importantly, your patient.
Medicolegal Issues
Don’t Mix Off-label Use With Off-the-rack Pills
Off-label use of a medication is common—and legal. But it also requires extra attention to ensure you are maintaining the standard of care....
Medicolegal Issues
The mesh mess, enmeshed in controversy
Beginning in the late 1990s, the US Food and Drug Administration cleared more than 150 devices using surgical mesh for...
Medicolegal Issues
Question Marks Lead to Dollar Signs
Missing details can turn a defensible case into a problematic (and costly) one. Don’t let the plaintiff host a mystery part at your expense.
Medicolegal Issues
Sometimes You Should Order Another Test
If the Grim Reaper crowned an Employee of the Month, DVT would win 8 months of the year. Here’s how to protect your patients—and your professional...
Law & Medicine
Good Notes Can Deter Litigation
Excellent personal and legal representation in court can help you win a malpractice case. But good documentation could help you avoid the...
Law & Medicine
When Diet Is an Emergency
Don't blow off things that may seem ancillary to your care—they can irrevocably alter your patient's clinical course and leave you at risk for...