Vasectomy and lowering surgeon's risk of liability.
The increased demand for vasectomy as a method of fertility control has resulted in an increase in professional liability suits against those surgeons performing this procedure. In some instances this litigation appears to arise from vague or casual instructions from the surgeon, but an additional causative factor is a misunderstanding on the part of the patient regarding the operative and postoperative periods and his responsibility for utilizing alternative contraceptive methods. I suggest some means for addressing these problems, and comment on the factors to consider when the surgeon finds himself the defendant in a lawsuit on "failed" vasectomy.
D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007351:Insurance, Liability; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D014481:United States; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000523:psychology