Articles related to LEGAL MATTERS

The Wisconsin State Supreme Court has taken on a case that will rule on a patient’s autonomy vs. a hospital’s duty to refuse to provide care it considers below its accepted standard of care.

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.

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.

The recent United States Supreme Court ruling raises the bar for evidence that must be shown by the government in order to successfully prosecute doctors who prescribe excessive dosages of painkillers — a huge win for prescribers.

Nearly one-fourth of doctors say they have been subjected to verbal, physical, or sexual harassment at work, with patients and visitors being the most frequent agitators. Organizations must take action to safeguard physicians’ wellbeing since mistreatment has negative effects on patients’ health.