The legal aspects of medical defence.
Defence organisations provide many varied "services" to members. Litigation involving doctors includes giving reports, giving evidence in court for or against the plaintiff or defendant, appearing as a witness at inquiries, e.g. coronial inquiries, and actions against doctors, generally alleging negligence. Patients do not seek treatment with the intent of eventually commencing proceedings. What are the catalysts for a patient commencing legal action or seeking legal advice? What should the doctor do to assist his/her defence? These questions are addressed in the article.
D002983:Clinical Competence; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008318:Malpractice; D010349:Patient Compliance; D009626:Terminology as Topic