Avoiding Medical Malpractice (PDF)

Avoiding Medical Malpractice: A Physician's Guide to the Law is a reader-friendly, physician oriented, handbook on how to avoid malpractice lawsuits. As both a practicing surgeon and an attorney, Dr. Choctaw provides real world perspectives into both the medical and legal aspects of malpractice issues.

Dr. Choctaw's insider's-point-of-view explains what physicians need to know both before and during legal proceedings. Key topics include:

• basic legal definitions


• how to manage malpractice risk


• how to be an effective witness in your own defense


• how plaintiff and defense lawyers litigate in malpractice cases


• the importance of good communication and documentation in daily practice


• what "informed consent" means in both legal and clinical contexts

An increasingly important concept for physicians is covered in the chapter entitled "Disruptive Physician Behavior." This discussion covers the increasing legalization of medicine and its impact on both physicians' attitudes and perspectives in clinical practice. Dr. Choctaw offers practical advice on how to minimize these behaviors and, thus, many of the root causes of litigation.

Some issues in the ongoing litigation crisis are far beyond the influence of individual physicians. But, there are corrective measures clinicians can take in their daily practice to avoid malpractice litigation. Avoiding Medical Malpractice: A Physician's Guide to the Law shows physicians, residents, and even students not only how to learn techniques to avoid malpractice lawsuits, but also provides first-hand, real world advice on how to survive unavoidable litigation.