ED Legal Letter – June 1, 2007
June 1, 2007
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Incident Reports: How to avoid plaintiff attorneys using them against you
Many health care providers harbor the delusion that hospital 'incident reports,' or 'occurrence screens,' are privileged and protected from discovery or admission as evidence against them in malpractice litigation. -
Change of shift high-risk for ED patients
Both nurses and physicians are at high risk for communication lapses during change of shift, says Francis L. Counselman, MD, chairman and program director for the department of emergency medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School. -
LWBS patients: Tremendous risk potential for ED staff
The number of ED patients who leave without being seen (LWBS) has increased from 1.1 million in 1995 to 2.1 million in 2002, and also, vulnerable populations such as younger, Hispanic, and uninsured patients are at higher risk, says a new study. -
Special Report: AMA Discharges
When a physician and patient disagree about medical testing and treatment, in most circumstances the patient has the right to refuse further care, even if that refusal may result in the patient's death.