Preventing Malpractice



Practitioners in the arts of medicine and healing are cautious about preventing malpractice because of the recent surge in claims of malpractice. Fortunately, prevention by following the right approach to treatment and reducing risk is not difficult. Being sued for liability of negligent or unprofessional care can cause insurance rates to go so high that the physician is put out of business. There are a few basic rules for avoiding this kind of result. Losing a license to practice means losing their livelihood. Doctor's can't make a decent living when they are spending their time consulting lawyers and not attending their practice. They also assume the risk being investigated by the medical review board. Do you want to be the physician who is being sued for negligence?



States have civil laws and juries award punitive damages for not being attentive to the patient during treatment. It is advisable for the doctor to avoid a confrontation with a patient. A patient who shows up at the doctor's office without appearing sick might be misdiagnosed with a non-life threatening illness, when in fact the patient is literally in the process of dying. Making the patient a full partner in their treatment makes it a shared responsibility. The doctor who is not aware of the legal ramifications faces receiving a summons to court for a case that she did not document well in the patients charts. The legal process is costly and financially draining. A physician can tip the odds in his favor my following the rules of avoiding malpractice.

In following the rules of avoiding malpractice, the physician should tell the patient up front what the risks of following a certain course of treatment will be, and this information should be documented in the patients charts. There are usually alternate treatment options available, and each option has it's own risks and advantageous. Not taking a medication can allow a disease to progress, ruining the health of the patient. But talking a drug that has dangerous side effects can result in permanent blindness, hearing loss, or organ damage. If the patient has concerns about the risks, be sure to discuss them. You don't want a patient to undergo an operation without the patient knowing that if the procedure goes wrong, a limb might have to be amputated. A doctor who refuses to discuss a patient's concerns regarding the way treatment has been handled raises the probability the patient will attempt to contact an attorney and get redress via the court system. A patient who is satisfied with the communications had with the doctor is less likely to sue. Malpractice laws vary from state to state, with differences in statute of limitations.