title: Failure to advise.
abstract: A recent Massachusetts case expands the concept of medical malpractice and the legal requirements of health care practitioners to their patients. Doctors can be found liable for negligence if they fail to advise patients to return for follow-up evaluations or treatment when symptoms persist or become worse. The legal theories involved and their implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of California, School of Optometry, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice; D009907:Optometry