Shah Vidhi V, Kapp Marshall B, Wolverton Stephen E
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
Center for Innovative Collaboration in Medicine and Law, Florida State University College of Medicine and College of Law, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4300, USA.
Am J Clin Dermatol. 2016 Dec;17(6):601-607. doi: 10.1007/s40257-016-0224-2.
Facing a malpractice lawsuit can be a daunting and traumatic experience for healthcare practitioners, with most clinicians naïve to the legal landscape. It is crucial for physicians to know and understand the malpractice system and his or her role once challenged with litigation. We present part II of a two-part series addressing the most common medicolegal questions that cause a great deal of anxiety. Part I focused upon risk-management strategies and prevention of malpractice lawsuits, whereas part II provides helpful suggestions and guidance for the physician who has been served with a lawsuit complaint. Herein, we address the best approach concerning what to do and what not to do after receipt of a legal claim, during the deposition, and during the trial phases. We also discuss routine concerns that may arise during the development of the case, including the personal, financial, and career implications of a malpractice lawsuit and how these can be best managed. The defense strategies discussed in this paper are not a guide separate from legal representation to winning a lawsuit, but may help physicians prepare for and cope with a medical malpractice lawsuit. This article is written from a US perspective, and therefore not all of the statements made herein will be applicable in other countries. Within the USA, medical practitioners must be familiar with their own state and local laws and should consult with their own legal counsel to obtain advice about specific questions.
对于医疗从业者来说，面临医疗事故诉讼可能是一次令人生畏且痛苦的经历，大多数临床医生对法律环境并不了解。一旦面临诉讼，医生了解和理解医疗事故制度以及自己在其中的角色至关重要。我们推出一个分为两部分的系列文章的第二部分，探讨引发大量焦虑的最常见法医学问题。第一部分聚焦风险管理策略及医疗事故诉讼的预防，而第二部分则为收到诉讼投诉的医生提供实用建议和指导。在此，我们阐述收到法律索赔后、在取证期间以及审判阶段关于该做什么和不该做什么的最佳方法。我们还讨论案件发展过程中可能出现的常见问题，包括医疗事故诉讼对个人、财务和职业的影响以及如何最好地应对这些影响。本文所讨论的辩护策略并非独立于法律代理之外的胜诉指南，但可能有助于医生为医疗事故诉讼做好准备并应对此类诉讼。本文是从美国的视角撰写的，因此并非本文中的所有陈述都适用于其他国家。在美国境内，医疗从业者必须熟悉自己所在州和当地的法律，并且应该咨询自己的法律顾问以获取关于具体问题的建议。
