Informed Refusal: An Underutilized Patient Safety and Risk Management Tool
This case illustrates a situation where the use of an informed refusal form might have protected the physician from allegations of negligent care and prevented a lawsuit. Though the physician was sure he had the conversation regarding risks around a delay in evaluation, including death, the lack of documentation of this discussion in the chart made the care very difficult to defend in front of a jury.
Documentation of Patient Communication
Failure to properly document patient communications can adversely affect care and lead to potential liability exposure for physicians. The experts at COPIC share what you need to know to protect yourself.
Within Normal Limits—A New Podcast by COPIC
COPIC has launched a podcast called Within Normal Limits: Navigating Medical Risks. Hosted by Eric Zacharias, MD, an internal medicine doctor and physician risk manager with COPIC, the podcast offers insights for physicians and medical providers on pitfalls to avoid and best practices to improve patient care.
“I Want a Whole-Body MRI” When Patients Demand Unnecessary Tests
Case Study: A 63-year-old patient was at his primary care physician’s office for an annual physical exam. The patient told the physician that he wanted “a whole-body MRI to make sure I don’t have any treatable cancer before it’s too late.” The patient noted he had recently seen cancers in several of his friends and colleagues.