ED Legal Letter – January 1, 2008
January 1, 2008
View Issues
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Beware of Long QT Syndrome in the ED: How Long Will You Be Liable?
How can a misread on an EKG years prior, which led to no immediate negative outcome, be held up at a distant time in the future as malpractice? It doesn't seem right to the practicing ED physician. -
Are curtained dividers a setup for a lawsuit?
Caring for patients with little privacy other than thin curtains in a crowded emergency department seems to fly in the face of the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). But what are the actual liability risks of this practice? -
Special Report: Between a Rock and a Hard Place: When Parents Refuse Treatment for their Children in the ED
Not infrequently, parents are reluctant to proceed with medical treatment for their children in the emergency department (ED). When the treatment is clearly indicated, and when parental reluctance progresses to outright refusal, ED physicians are faced with difficult choices. -
Unauthorized file access: How to avoid lawsuits
Recently, over two dozen ED staff members at Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, NJ were suspended for "sneaking a peek" of the medical record of George Clooney, who was being treated for injuries he sustained after a motorcycle accident. -
When interviewing, "harmless" questions could get you sued
Whether you are interviewing emergency medicine physicians, mid-level providers, or technicians in your ED, certain questions or remarks can get you into legal trouble. What should you avoid saying during the hiring process?