title: Liability issues associated with PRK and the excimer laser.
abstract: Given the elective nature of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), the high expectations of patients, and misconceptions of the general public about refractive surgery, the use of the excimer laser for PRK opens the door to new liability risks for ophthalmologists and, in the comanagement environment, referring optometrists. The authors discuss informed consent, marketing, comanagement, and off-label use guidelines and protocols to help protect ophthalmologists against claims and better defend those that might arise.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmic Risk Management Company, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brick
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000592:standards; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures