PROVIDENCE (April 30, 2014) – John J. Barton in the April 2014 issue of ED Legal Letter suggests a variety of best practices for emergency room medical professionals to minimize their liability exposure when providing discharge instructions to patients .
In the article (page 42 of the April issue), Barton indicates that ER doctors whenever possible should take the time to personally deliver discharge instructions because the patient is less likely to feel disrespected and abandoned.
“Studies of malpractice cases have consistently shown that patients who believe that their doctors care about them as people, and not just as patients, are much less likely to sue,” Barton explains.
He notes that patient discharge instructions frequently play an important evidentiary role at medical malpractice trials, with plaintiffs’ attorneys sometimes using them in an attempt to portray a physician “as callous and careless.”
The ED Legal Letter is a monthly newsletter distributed to ER medical professionals across the country.
Barton, who has tried and won over 40 civil jury trials, devotes a substantial portion of his practice to defending medical professionals in professional liability lawsuits.
About Barton Gilman
Barton Gilman LLP is one of New England’s leading civil litigation law firms with offices in Boston and Providence. Its experienced trial attorneys appear regularly in the federal and state courts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Providence Business News named the firm five consecutive years as one of Rhode Island’s Best Places to Work (2008-2012).
View as PDF
