title: A new approach to professional liability reform: placing obligations of stakeholders ahead of their interests.
abstract: The authors utilize stakeholder theory to provide a new analysis of the professional liability crisis, by identifying the major stakeholders in our current system of professional liability, their respective obligations and self-interests, and how these interests are advanced and constrained by the current system. This stakeholder analysis reveals a core ethical obligation of all stakeholders: the preservation of the integrity of our current judicial system. The adverse impact of the pursuit of stakeholder self-interests, rather than fulfillment of their core, shared ethical obligation, on achievement of the goals of the current system, the deterrence of unsafe practice and compensation of injured patients, is then identified. The authors argue that approaches to reform of professional liability in obstetrics be based upon the common obligation of the stakeholders to fulfill the goals of the system, because attempts to align the myriad self-interests of the stakeholders will be futile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chervenak
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Chervenak
authors.forename: Laurence B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: McCullough
mesh_terms: D035881:Compensation and Redress; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D009774:Obstetrics; D012449:Safety; D014481:United States