title: Negligence and the surgeon.
abstract: Increasing litigation in recent years makes it more and more necessary for the surgeon to be on his guard against actions or omissions that might be construed as professional negligence. Some of the more common causes of such negligence and their avoidance are discussed. If the current tendency of the courts to interpret mistakes and errors of judgment as negligence continues some change in the law will be essential if the practice of defensive medicine is to be avoided.
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003675:Defensive Medicine / Q000639:trends; D013502:General Surgery / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006113:United Kingdom; D014850:Waiting Lists