Current status of obstetrics and gynecology resident medical-legal education: a survey of program directors.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level and type of medical-legal education offered to obstetrics and gynecology residents and medical students.


METHODS
All obstetrics and gynecology program directors (n = 252) were asked to complete a survey questioning the availability of, type of, and desire for medical-legal education within their programs.


RESULTS
Seventy-eight percent of the program directors answered the survey with 86% reporting some degree of formal medical-legal education. The most common formats were didactic lectures (38%), grand rounds (30%), case conferences (19%), mock trials (9%), and other (4%). These sessions most commonly contained information on proper documentation (48%), testifying (25%), and giving a deposition (24%). The average number of sessions per year was 4.1 with a median of 3 sessions per year. Despite this high percentage of some formal education, 88% expressed an interest in pursuing other educational options on these topics.


CONCLUSIONS
Most obstetrics and gynecology residency programs provide some form of medical-legal instruction to residents, but the small number of sessions suggests that this is inadequate. Residency programs may benefit from a larger and more formal resident education program on medical-legal issues.
Moreno-Hunt
Carey
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, USA.
Gilbert
William M
WM
D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires