ED Legal Letter – April 1, 2008
April 1, 2008
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Medical Malpractice Insurance: That Pesky "Tail" Problem
Emergency physician groups have dealt with the realities of claims-made liability coverage for years now, yet many continue to be unpleasantly "surprised" when it comes to their "tail coverage." Tail coverage: allows the insured an extended period of time for the claim to mature or be reported to the insurance company. -
Be aware of liability risks if you fail to give high-dose steroids
There is now considerable data indicating that the use of high-dose steroids for spinal cord injuries is not effective and can even be harmful to patients. Despite this, are ED physicians still "obligated" in a legal sense, to administer high-dose steroids to patients with spinal cord injuries? -
Special Report: Standards of Medical Misconduct: What are they and why are they important?
You may hear phrases such as "gross negligence" and "willful and wanton misconduct" stated by the media, but these terms also are important for many health providers in that they can limit liability for providing medical care. -
How can "standard of care" affect a lawsuit?
The "standard of care" often has a significant impact on the outcome of ED malpractice lawsuits, but the way this is defined can vary according to state law and other factors. -
EM group might be liable for physician misconduct
If an emergency physician is arrested for assaulting a patient or for inappropriate sexual conduct, there is potential liability exposure for both the emergency medicine group and the hospital where the ED is located, says Thomas H. Taylor, a health care attorney at LaCrosse, WI-based Johns, Flaherty & Collins.