title: The legal liability of doctors and hospitals for medical malpractice.
abstract: A broad overview of the fundamental principles relating to legal liability for medical malpractice is presented. The issues expounded, discussed and illustrated are the nature and consequences of the relationship between doctor/hospital and patient, effective consent as a requisite of lawful medical interventions, emergency treatment, medical negligence and the vicarious liability of doctors/hospitals for the negligence of others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminal Law, University of Pretoria.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: van Oosten
mesh_terms: D006761:Hospitals; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D013019:South Africa