Posts in Legal
The Medical Malpractice Curriculum for Emergency Physicians
The Medical Malpractice Curriculum for Emergency Physicians

Malpractice is a topic that is often avoided in medical training. We arguably spend more time learning to perform once-in-a-lifetime/never-in-a-lifetime procedures than we learn about something that is very likely to occur in our career. According to the American Medical Associations’ Physician Practice Information survey in 2007-2008, 75% of emergency physicians over the age of 55 years old reported having ever been sued. Additionally, 30.9% of emergency medicine respondents reported being sued at least two times, with 109 claims per 100 physicians who responded…

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Legal, Conference RecapsKelly Wongmalpractice, medicolegal, lawsuitComment
Yes, Officer: Law Enforcement and the Emergency Department
Yes, Officer: Law Enforcement and the Emergency Department

Emergency department providers are no strangers to the presence of law enforcement officers (LEOs) through the course of their job duties; they are integral to public safety and often hospital safety, conduct criminal investigations, and assist in pre-hospital care. Despite the frequency of law enforcement in U.S. emergency departments, interactions with providers and staff often presents unique challenges. When faced with a patient needing both medical care and involvement of law enforcement, ED providers can face several conflicts of interest…

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Legal, Conference RecapsMatthew LoContelaw enforcement, risk management, HIPPA, emergency, traumaComment