title: The legal aspects of medical defence.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008318:Malpractice; D010349:Patient Compliance; D009626:Terminology as Topic