2022 Senior Fellows Program (2nd & 3rd Year) | August 2022-9-Staying Out of Trouble Medico Legal Issues

9-Staying Out of Trouble Medico Legal Issues_Medical Pitfalls

Pdf Summary

This document provides information on medico-legal issues in gastroenterology and offers tips on how gastroenterologists can avoid malpractice claims. It discusses statistics on malpractice claims by physician specialty, with neurosurgery having the highest rate (19.1%) and psychiatry having the lowest (2.6%). The document emphasizes the importance of understanding the elements of negligence, including duty, breach, proximate cause, and harm. It suggests several strategies for staying out of trouble, including following practice guidelines, considering risks and benefits of high-risk procedures, using electronic medical records effectively, being cautious with emails, ensuring adequate training for staff, and maintaining appropriate office wait times and routing of emergency calls. The document also highlights the importance of informed consent, the potential complications that can arise, and the need for prompt and effective communication with patients. It suggests that physicians who use more statements of orientation, check understanding, spend more time with patients, and use humor are less likely to face malpractice claims. The document also discusses the potential for complications in modern endoscopy practices and the long process of a malpractice lawsuit. It advises physicians on how to handle a deposition and offers guidance on life after a lawsuit, including the importance of continuing education and quality processes. The document concludes with the author's contact information and a list of references for additional reading.

Keywords

medico-legal issues

gastroenterology

malpractice claims

physician specialty

elements of negligence

practice guidelines

high-risk procedures

informed consent

communication with patients

malpractice lawsuit