title: Legal aspects of epilepsy.
abstract: Legal issues must be considered in caring for patients with epilepsy. Doctors caring for people with epilepsy may be legally involved in three primary ways: as the agent of social control, as patient advocate, and as the target of liability or malpractice suits. This article examines these factors and the implications for patients and their caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Devinsky
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004651:Employment; D004827:Epilepsy; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008004:Licensure; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence