How to Avoid Being Sued
Is Being Sued Common
These days fear of being sued is a big discussion in the medical community. I don’t want to get into how sad I think it is we have to worry about this while doing our job (if we know we are doing what is best for our patients.) But it happens.
A study by Beckman et al in the Archives of Internal Medicine revealed that 71% of patients who sued said it was because of poor relationships as the main reason.
- 32% felt deserted
- 29% felt devalued
- 26% felt information was delivered poorly
- 13% felt lack of understanding by clinician
How to Avoid Being Sued
To help avoid your chances of being sued make sure you are doing the following:
- Work on establishing a good relationship with all of your patients. Make sure to listen to them. Treat them like a friend. Really get to know them and establish a trust between you.
- Document and code services appropriately. Remember write your notes like they are being read in court.
- Make sure you have liability insurance (it was recommended to me to carry extra insurance even though my company provides it by someone who was sued before.)
- Ask them their goals and have them agree with all goals established for them.
- Be invested in their outcome.
And of course document your skill and how your patient responded!
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