It is no question that being accused of medical malpractice can have a serious effect on your career as a physician. To name a few consequences, you may be charged with heft fines, lose many of your patients, lose your employment, or even be temporarily or permanently barred from practicing. This is why you must fight back if you are ever wrongly accused of this. Read on to discover how you can prevent a medical malpractice claim from being placed against you and how one of the seasoned New York physician defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law can come to your aid.
How can I avoid a medical malpractice claim from being placed against me?
First of all, any of your former or current patients may file a medical malpractice complaint against you to the New York Department of Health’s Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC). This may prompt the OPMC to commence an investigation and disciplinary proceedings against you. Ultimately, this may threaten your livelihood.
So, to avoid all this, one of the most notable habits you may practice is to meticulously document every patient interaction you have. Though this may seem tedious and time-consuming, such supporting evidence can save you from any wrongful accusations in the future. It may be in your best interest to document the following:
- Write down the full name of your patients on all reports, so that there is no confusion when referenced later on.
- Write all of your patients’ reports legibly, so that there is no confusion when referenced later on.
- Review all your patients’ reports thoroughly and include your signature at the end, so that there is no confusion as to whether it was confirmed.
- Write down the exact medical diagnosis and recommendations you prescribed in your patients’ reports.
- Write down the exact date and time of every appointment you have with your patients.
What other advice should I consider?
While the conscious documentation of your patients’ reports is important, other best practices are necessary to abide by. Additional advice reads as follows:
- You must keep yourself up-to-date on any revised or updated medical standards established in your jurisdiction.
- You must receive the explicit consent of a patient before performing any type of medical procedure on them, or their guardian’s explicit consent if applicable.
- You must answer all of your patient’s questions or concerns before performing any type of medical procedure on them.
- You must emphasize possible side effects before performing any type of medical procedure on your patient.
- You must schedule follow-up appointments with your patient after performing any type of medical procedure on them to be up-to-date on their condition.
One of the competent New York physician defense lawyers at Walker Medical Law is here whenever you are ready to fight back against this claim. Simply call our firm at your earliest possible convenience.
