Risk Prevention in Ophthalmology

About this book

In Ophthalmology and The Law, many of the questions surrounding medical malpractice are answered clearly, concisely and pragmatically for physicians, but physicians. Written with an emphasis on clinical matters, this book shows ophthalmologists how to avoid law suits in the first place. What does "risk assessment" mean in the real world? How truly informed are your patients after signing your consent forms? Do your patients have reasonable expectations regarding outcomes? Are your history-taking and record keeping habits leaving you exposed? Are you sufficiently careful with documentation? What is quality assurance?

TOPICS COVERED w Causes of litigation w Poor communication w Cataract surgery w Retinal detachment w Prescribing & drugs w Glaucoma w Trauma & Intraocular foreign bodies w Medical retina w Retinopathy of prematurity w Anesthesia w Oculoplastic w Strabismus w Tumors w Neuro-ophthalmology w Why patients sue w The four most effective risk prevention techniques w Identifying and managing the litigious patient w Natural history of a medical malpractice claim w Hiring your own attorney w Selection of an expert witness w Discovery w Interrogatories w Examination before trial (deposition) w Consideration of settlement w Trial testimony and courtroom behavior w Damages w Appeal w

Covering the legal issues for all of the areas of subspeciality in ophthalmology, Ophthalmology and The Law provides the busy clinician with the tools necessary to reduce not only the risk of potential lawsuits, but also insights for coping with actual ones.

Keywords:

• cataract surgery
• glaucoma
• malpractice
• ophthalmology
• practice guidelines
• retina

Table of contents

Definitions of medical malpractice and examples (Allegations * Maloccurence) * Causes of litigation (* Poor communication * Physician-patient relationship * Informed consent * Poor result) * Physician-patient relationship: practical and philosophical considerations * Informed consent (* History * Theory * Rationale * Procedure) * Poor results (* Cataract surgery * Retinal detachment * Prescribing & drugs * Glaucoma * Trauma & Intraocular foreign bodies * Medical retina * Retinopathy of prematurity * Anesthesia * Oculoplastic * Strabismus * Tumors * Neuro-ophthalmology * Miscellaneous) * Why patients sue (Plaintiff attorney author MD/JD) * The plaintiff’s attorney (plaintiff attorney author MD/JD) * The defense attorney (defense attorney author MD/JD) * Ophthalmic malpractice lawsuits with large monetary awards * Medical records (* Office chart * Hospital record) * The four most effective risk prevention techniques (* Good result * Physician-patient relationship * Informed consent * Documentation) * Identifying and managing the litigious patient * Natural history of a medical malpractice claim (* Request for records * Summons and complaint * Narrative interview * Hiring your own attorney * Selection of an expert witness * Discovery * Interrogatories * Examination before trial (deposition) * Consideration of settlement * Trial testimony and courtroom behavior * Damages * Appeal * Countersuit) * Testifying as an expert witness.