-
Patient handoffs affect safety, although it is possible malpractice risk is a downstream effect. A large study of malpractice claims revealed a direct relationship between the quality of patient handoffs and claims.
-
Steps taken in the early phase of malpractice litigation can significantly affect the length of the case, with the right moves resulting in a faster, cheaper resolution. On the other hand, missteps and oversights can draw out the case, costing more in legal fees and more on the eventual settlement.
-
A three-judge appeals panel in Illinois reinstated claims by a patient with multiple sclerosis for her neurologist’s negligence in treating her disorder. The treatment caused the patient’s permanent disability. The trial court originally rejected the patient’s amended complaint.
-
This case shows the importance of informed consent in medical negligence cases and defines how strictly a court upholds the standard of care when informing a patient of the asserted risks of a procedure outside the scope of a doctor’s expertise.
-
The dramatic increase in the use of telemedicine is raising concerns about the potential for malpractice issues related to this form of caregiving, with some experts cautioning a wave of lawsuits could be on the way. Adherence to key principles of patient safety and risk management can reduce the risk.
-
A hospital’s peer review protection often prevents attorneys from potentially using damaging information in court, but that protection can be forfeited. To protect patient safety investigations, the most important thing is to follow the applicable federal or state peer review statute as strictly as possible.
-
The Joint Commission recently updated its standards for preventing and addressing violence in the healthcare workplace. OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to provide their employees with a place of employment that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”
-
Always a challenging problem, workplace violence in healthcare settings has worsened recently as the many stresses of the pandemic push staff, managers, patients, and family members to the breaking point. Risk managers should review their workplace violence policies to ensure they clearly define workplace violence to include bullying, intimidation, and harassment.
-
Once a risk manager realizes the organization may have violated laws or regulations, the best course of action might be to report the violation instead of hoping no one will discover it. Self-disclosure can offer many advantages that result in lesser penalties and other consequences. But it is important to know when to report and how to do it advantageously.
-
This case presents an interesting intersection between the facts and the law. Does the legal system compensate a patient who indisputably suffered a significant, permanent injury when an investigation cannot reveal how the injury occurred? This is where the legal doctrine of res ipsa loquitor becomes involved.