Physicians' liability in ophthalmology practice.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this paper are to point out the importance of coherence in established guidelines in daily practice, highlight the value of signed patient informed consent forms and stress the value of a good understanding of the law, while focusing on issues related to malpractice in ophthalmology.


METHODS
Search of the current relevant literature.


RESULTS
The most common causes of medical litigation in ophthalmology are related to LASIK surgery, cataract surgery, glaucoma care, radial keratotomy for myopia reduction and failure to diagnose binocular vision anomalies in children and adults in a timely fashion. The litigation raised in most cases is driven by unfavourable outcomes and not by malpractice.


CONCLUSIONS
Maintenance of high standards in daily practice, with continuous training and clear communication along with the appropriate documentation of any procedure carried out, may improve the professional safety of practising eye specialists in the event of medical litigation. Although the use of patient informed consent varies substantially among European countries, it may serve as useful evidence in the physician's defence.
Mavroforou
Anna
A
Department of Forensic Sciences, University of Crete Medical School, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. amavroforou@hotmail.com
Michalodimitrakis
Emmanuel
E
D032962:Consent Forms / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010819:Physician's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States