Pathology and Malpractice

When is the practice of pathology malpractice?

Because of its complex nature, surgical pathology diagnosis has an appreciable degree of fallibility and is increasingly subject to legal scrutiny. In litigation, the first practical step is to explain why and how this adversity could happen, and the second is the question of apportionment of responsibility and its legal consequences. As pathologists, we have to provide a methodology of investi...

Medical Malpractice Crisis Medical Malpractice Crisis

Malpractice crisis and reform.

Medical liability coverage has become increasingly expensive and scarce since 2001, especially for obstetrics and other high-risk specialties. Physicians, whose own fees are constrained, see this as a crisis needing tort reform to cap payouts. Plaintiffs' lawyers fight caps; they blame insurance trends and call for stronger regulation of insurers and physicians. Doctors' arguments are somewhat ...

Forensic psychiatry and malpractice.

This paper concerning the last 87 malpractice cases referred to the Department of Psychiatry and Law, Menninger Clinic, includes 57 suits against mental health practitioners and/or institutions, and 30 nonpsychiatric suits against general hospitals, surgeons, obstetricians, etc. A patient was available for interview in only 12 percent of the psychiatric cases; in 88 percent we reviewed medical ...

Malpractice and complications

erative neurologic injury, infection, hemorrhage, hematoma, and drug-related side effects. Complications can be resolved without any serious problems if the cause is detected early and adequate treatment provided. In this case, it is rare for the medical staff to take legal responsibilities. However, in cases of malpractice, civil and criminal penalties are unavoidable if negligence of the medi...