Legal Issues in Medicine

Avoiding Litigation by Knowing How to Deal With Angry Patients

Publish Date November 9, 2020

Physicians can take steps to reduce their risk of being sued by having a low threshold for discharging angry patients from their practice and carefully documenting all discussions and interactions with these patients.

Doctors Question State Lawsuits Over Pelvic Mesh Products

Publish Date January 14, 2019

Lawsuits claim Johnson Johnson did not fully disclose safety risks of transvaginal mesh products.

Recreational Marijuana Now Legal in Canada

Publish Date October 18, 2018

Canada is first major world economy to legalize recreational marijuana use

Legality in Voluntary Refusal to Eat, Drink

Publish Date November 14, 2017

Patients, families, clinicians must consider clinical, ethical, legal aspects of VSED to hasten death.

Patient Safety Info Open to Litigation, Court Rules

Publish Date March 6, 2017

The PSQIA allows physicians and hospitals to share information about safety issues and incidents through a patient safety organization.

Reduce Your Risk of Medical Lawsuits

Publish Date December 28, 2016

The risk of a primary care physician getting sued is 75%, the authors present 5 strategies to reduce the risk of lawsuits.

Reimbursement, Legal Concerns Plague Telehealth

Publish Date September 5, 2016

Although the benefit of telehealth services is substantial, reimbursement issues have limited its use and expansion.

Physician-Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia Increasing Legalized

Publish Date July 11, 2016

Public support for physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia has increased in Western Europe, while plateauing in the United States.

Apology Laws Found to Speed Up Malpractice Litigation

Publish Date May 7, 2016

Physician expressions of sympathy and regret appear to encourage quicker settlements.

FDA’s ‘Breakthrough’ Drug Designation Misunderstood

Publish Date April 14, 2016

Many believe meds supported by stronger evidence than the law requires to achieve designation.