Noncompliance: A Frequent Prelude to Malpractice Lawsuits

Noncompliance: A Frequent Prelude to Malpractice Lawsuits  

Patients who do not show up for appointments or follow treatment recommendations represent a significant professional liability risk for ophthalmologists. This noncompliance toolkit  discusses the issues and provides sample letters.

Handling the Disruptive or Dangerous Patient

Providing care that improves a patient’s quality of life leads to many very rewarding patient physician relationships. However, the unfortunate reality is that ophthalmologists and their staff sometimes need to deal with very angry and sometimes violent patients.

See the sample Policy and Procedure for Disruptive or Dangerous Patient below to educate and protect staff and others from patients who behave in a disruptive or threatening manner.

OCB Policy to Handle Disruptive Patients

Employees: Providing Medical Care, Services, or Products

Physicians may treat their employees. There are patient safety and professional liability risks, however, if the physician does not provide medical care and services to employee patients in the same manner as any other patient.

See Providing Medical Care to Employees for guidance on the risks and how to avoid them.

Driving Issues: Vision Requirements for Driving

OMIC Recommendations on Vision requirements for driving 

OTHER RESOURCES:

Physician’s Guide to Assessing and Counseling Older Drivers

https://eyewiki.org/Driving_Restrictions_per_State

Confidentiality/Privacy Issues and Malpractice Claims

Physicians often have questions about sharing protected health information (PHI) with their professional liability carrier or an attorney during the investigation and litigation of a medical malpractice incident, claim, or lawsuit. Confidentiality During Litigation provides general information; please call your professional liability (PL) carrier or your practice attorney if you need more assistance.