Office surgery and the law.

The physician/owner of an office operating room can minimize his exposure to medical malpractice by avoiding the legal pitfalls outlined in this chapter. When patients do sustain injuries because of the surgeon's actions, many factors contribute to the patient's decision whether to take legal action. The behavior of the physician in dealing with the patient often determines whether postoperative problems are interpreted by the patient as unfortunate complications or errors by the physician. An open, truthful, and caring approach by the physician can avoid unnecessary trips to the courthouse.