Malpractice has key standards and a certain process.  Understanding these standards and processes are key in discovering if there is a case or not against a healthcare provider.  Legal Nurse Consultants are key individuals in helping firms defend or litigate against healthcare providers.  They provide expert testimony and also knowledge on standards of care.

The article, “The Anatomy of a Medical Malpractice Case” by Wagner Law Firm from Law.com looks closer at the anatomy of a malpractice case.  The article states,

“At the most basic level, a medical malpractice claim begins when someone is harmed in the course of receiving treatment from a healthcare professional and seeks compensation through the legal system. While it is easy to understand that medical negligence happens – and that its consequences can be extremely serious – the process of pursuing a claim in this area of law is far more complex. Medical malpractice cases have a unique anatomy made up of many interlocking parts. A successful plaintiff must know how each part relates to their situation and must be constantly mindful of the difficulties surrounding evidence and proof.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review The American College of Legal Nurse Consulting and its Legal Nurse Consulting Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The Legal Nurse Consulting Program is online and independent study and open to nurses seeking a four year Legal Nurse Consulting Certification

Malpractice suites happen all the time.  Sometimes they are justified, other times they are not.  Regardless, there are ways to avoid malpractices beyond doing a good job.  While it is impossible to filter out all chances, by following certain standards and steps, to reduce the chance.

The article, “7 tips to avoid a malpractice suit, according to experts” by Naveed Saleh, MD, MS looks at how healthcare providers can protect themselves.  The article states, 

“But, according to malpractice experts, many lawsuits are rooted in failures that largely relate to physician communication and trust. It may seem strange, but malpractice litigation has evolved to include patient perceptions and sentiments about failure to communicate and mistreatment, rather than medical errors. The upside is that such issues are preventable. It’s possible to avoid a malpractice suit by making the patient the center of your practice”

To read the entire article, please click here

Healthcare providers need to protect themselves.  The steps can help.

Please also review the AIHCP’s Legal Nurse Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified nurses seeking a four year certification program.

Good bedside manner can go much farther than just kindness and professionalism.  In fact, the better the bedside manner, the less chance of confusion and hurt feelings.  This pays huge dividends when something goes wrong and how the patient interprets it.  It may pay for physicians and surgeons to spend that extra moment or say that extra kind word when dealing with patients.

The article, “Bad Bedside Manner or Medical Malpractice?” by Richard Console Jr takes a closer look at malpractice cases and the effect of good bedside manner in preventing them.  He states,

“A good bedside manner is far more effective at reducing the risk of medical malpractice litigation than common practices of ordering excessive tests and procedures, sometimes called “defensive medicine,” The New York Times reported. The patients seeing doctors who faced the most malpractice lawsuits – not only the ones who actually filed those suits – felt that these doctors ignored them, rushed them or failed to explain things adequately. Frequently sued doctors are the subject of twice as many complaints as doctors without such a troubled history. Most often, complaints referenced the doctor’s poor communication”

To read the entire article, please click here

Doctor bedside manner can prevent many unneeded conflicts when no actual malpractice even exists.  It is when patients perceive a slight that a case has a chance to develop even if it ultimately goes nowhere.  Yet is it worth the risk?  Taking time to better explain and show some empathy is important to the total treatment of the patient.

Please also review AIHCP’S College of Legal Nurse Consulting.  The program is online and independent study and offers a four year certification in Legal Nurse Consulting for qualified nurses.