TRENDING MEDICAL EDUCATION TOPIC: MALPRACTICE

Medical malpractice lawsuits are relatively common in the United States and can take a
heavy toll on physicians’ time, reputation, and emotional health. The AMA states that one in
three clinicians will be sued at least once throughout their career. In most states, malpractice
is based on three legal principles: Negligence, Causation, and Damages. Often, a suit arises
when another physician suggests that the care given by the patient’s physician was below
standard and might have been responsible for the adverse outcome. These suggestions are
often made without reviewing the complete record and with no conversations with the
physicians or nurses present when an incident occurs. Some plaintiffs filed suits based on
the belief that the physician did not listen to the patient or answer questions, or failed to
warn them about the risks. Therefore, it is important that physicians properly document when
conversations take place. It is also important that physicians realize that the patient and the
family may be under stress, making them less able to understand the consequences. Patients
and their family members may need to be told of the dangers several times. Physicians need
to understand malpractice and the litigation process elements and have strategies in place
to reduce liability and cite liability issues associated with consent.

Does your medical staff need the training to help you avoid a malpractice suit? Here are some of the learning objectives that our faculty can cover in a 1-hour CME lecture:

1. Identify the elements of malpractice liability and the non-error triggers of suits
2. Review risks of malpractice by specialty and physician characteristics
3. Participate productively in malpractice, including depositions
4. Reduce malpractice risk/costs through best practices in medical decisions and
5. documentation

CLICK HERE to download a PDF file featuring information gaps, potential needs and references for this topic.

If your medical staff needs an update on avoiding and dealing with Malpractice lawsuits, consider contacting our office to book a speaker on this topic at 877-505-4777or info@speakersnetwork.com.

References:

https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/sustainability/1-3-physicians-has-been-sued-age55-1-2-hit-suit
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3204310/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470573/