ED Legal Letter – April 1, 2009
April 1, 2009
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Sexual Comments, Behavior Create Minefield in the Health Care Setting
Interactions in the clinical setting that involve sexually related comments or behavior, personal relationships, or physical examination of private areas of a patient's body must be handled with sensitivity and good judgment to avoid potential liability. -
Could photographing an ED patient get you sued?
Photographs of ED patients' clinical findings are being taken more frequently, due to the ubiquity of digital cameras, increasing use of electronic medical records, and their recognized value in medical education. However, patients who are to be photographed should be informed of the photography and given an opportunity for informed consent. -
Special Report: Smoothing Legal Rough Waters with Mediation
The format of this article deviates somewhat from the usual style of footnotes sustaining the assertions of the article, because the purpose of this essay is to provide an introduction to alternative methods of dispute resolution in the healthcare field, which will be further examined in future articles. -
Risks rising for 'delayed diagnosis' ED litigation
This is the first of a two-part series on delayed diagnosis in the ED. This month, we cover general liability risks and documentation. Next month, we'll report on why legal risks involving time-dependent medications and interventions are increasing.