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

In this document, Dr. Harald Schoeppner discusses medico-legal issues in gastrointestinal (GI) practice. He highlights the risk of malpractice claims, with 7.4% of physicians facing at least one claim per year. Neurosurgery has the highest rate at 19.1%, while psychiatry has the lowest rate at 2.6%. The median payment for malpractice claims is $111,749.<br /><br />The three dominant categories of GI malpractice claims are cognitive errors, missed colon cancers, and procedure-related complications. It is important for physicians to be aware of major GI society guidelines and document reasons for deviating from them. Informed consent is also crucial, and physicians should consider the risks and benefits of high-risk procedures and explain alternative management options.<br /><br />Physicians should be cautious with electronic medical records and emails, as they may be discoverable in legal cases. They also have a duty to their patients and should ensure appropriate training and policies for advanced practice providers and staff. Endoscopic sedation and complications are areas of concern, and physicians should not ignore post-complication care.<br /><br />Maintaining a good physician-patient relationship is essential, and communication skills can help reduce the risk of malpractice claims. Physicians should spend more time with patients, check understanding, and use humor during interactions.<br /><br />The document mentions that modern endoscopy practices, such as open access and tight schedules, can increase the risk of complications. It is important for physicians to be prepared for the potential of lawsuits, including being professional and compassionate during depositions.<br /><br />After a lawsuit, physicians should continue to learn from the experience, stay up to date with standards of care, and adhere to strong quality processes. They should also rely on support from friends, colleagues, and family and report to the National Practitioner Database.<br /><br />Overall, this document provides tips for staying out of legal trouble in GI practice, emphasizing the importance of following guidelines, obtaining informed consent, maintaining good communication with patients, and taking measures to prevent complications.

Keywords

medico-legal issues

gastrointestinal practice

malpractice claims

physicians

cognitive errors

informed consent

endoscopic sedation

physician-patient relationship

communication skills

potential of lawsuits