Articles related to LEGAL MATTERS

Who is at fault when the patient is injured when only partially following the doctor’s orders regarding limiting activity? The doctor hadn’t discussed all the potential adverse effects (e.g. dizziness and fainting) from medical therapy but had warned the patient to strictly moderate their activity level. Read the case and the court ruling.

This brief editorial introduces a series of articles describing the medical use of hallucinogens, ketamine, marijuana, and other agents — including the legal and ethical perspectives — in the treatment of various neurologic and psychiatric disorders.

Genetic tools such as CRISPR could enable creating a close approximation Neanderthal or other lost species DNA. Harvard geneticist George Church, PhD, argued some potential benefits to humans. But what are the potential implications and how should the question be weighed?

After earning a doctorate in nursing practice, this NP began to refer to herself as “Doctor Sarah Erny.” Now she must pay a civil fine and clean up her attribution.

Suit for failure to refer is a common source of malpractice claims for primary care physicians. The GP is responsible for knowing enough to know when referral to a specialist is in the patient’s best interest.

There were fewer lawsuits last year than there were two years ago, according to the Medscape Malpractice Report for 2021 (the most recent year available), with both specialists and primary care physicians reporting less involvement in malpractice cases. The COVID-related slowdown in medical visits appears to have spread to malpractice claims as well. Still, there are many reasons why a patient or caretaker might name doctors in a medical malpractice lawsuit. Here are the top five.