BOSTON (Jan. 13, 2014) – Pamela S. Gilman in the January 2014 issue of ED Legal Letter suggests a variety of best practices for physicians and other ER medical professionals to minimize their liability exposure, especially when they are provided misleading information about a patient.
In the article (page 9 of the January issue), Gilman indicates that doctors and nurses can put in the ER report a patient’s exact words describing his or her condition. “There is probably no better defense when a patient alleges that his complaint was not addressed than to document the patient’s specific complaints,” Gilman says.
Among other tips, Gilman also suggests supplementing medical chart templates with specific patient information when appropriate, instead of simply checking off boxes. This helps to establish that the ER physician or nurse was thorough and caring, Gilman notes.
The ED Legal Letter is a monthly newsletter distributed to ER medical professionals across the country.
Gilman, who has tried and won over 50 trials, focuses her practice on defending medical professionals in professional liability lawsuits.
About Barton Gilman
Barton Gilman 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).
