Safety Net

A consent discussion with patients leads the PSA testing advice in a Harvard-generated tool to help primary care MDs manage prostate care.

Strong indicators that telling nurses when to call the doctor to the bedside reduce bad outcomes.

Physicians who express empathy get higher ratings by their patients on other care issues.

A physician and a lawyer discuss hazards of increasing the use of telephone advice from specialists.

Even if negligence didn't cause a patient's death, it may be compensable if it lessened the chance of survival.

As more and more health care is provided in the ambulatory setting, the data from malpractice carriers show that more and more lawsuits get their start in the same setting.

How are physician responsible when patients don't keep appointments or test results don't come back? Guest commentator John Cassidy, JD of Ficksman and Conley, Boston, MA.

Research helps surgeons find ways to communicate better to prevent mistakes before, during, and after surgery.

Fetal monitor strips, family history forms, and other non-medical record documents need to be preserved.

Joint Commission pushes new standards for reconciling lists and dosage of medications as patients change settings.