Legal concerns surrounding e-mail use in a medical practice.
The Internet and e-mail have revolutionized the way people communicate with others, but they have not been embraced in medical practice because of legal concerns. To date, there have been no malpractice cases concerning e-mail, but e-mail is in its infancy for practitioner-patient communication. E-mail can be implemented in medical practice to enhance the practitioner-patient relationship, but only if there are safeguards to protect both the patient and the practitioner.
Luria Spiotta
Vickilyn
V
University of Pennsylvania and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA. vluria@nursing.upenn.edu
D003142:Communication; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States