title: Orthopaedics and the law.
abstract: Understanding the relevant legal context is critical to the safe and successful practice of orthopaedic surgery. Specifically, three areas of liability are relevant to most physicians: medical malpractice, products liability, and the liability of health care organizations. Medical malpractice encompasses the professional physician-patient relationship with its implied contract, consent, fiduciary responsibilities, and duty to provide the standard of care, as well as certain common-law duties pertinent in special circumstances. Orthopaedic surgeons who design implants or who have a relationship with a device manufacturer are at risk for liability for a failed product. In general, the hospital entity is responsible for the actions of its physician-employees. Still unclear is the degree to which a physician is obligated to appeal to a third-party payer on behalf of a patient. Physicians should remember that, above all else, common sense with regard to the treatment, informed consent, and advocacy of patients is essential to avoiding many medical-legal pitfalls.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida College of Medicine, Orthopaedic Trauma Service, Shands Medical Center, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suk
authors.forename: Ann Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Udale
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Helfet
mesh_terms: D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States