title: English law for the surgeon II: clinical negligence.
abstract: Traditionally, in the United Kingdom and Europe, the surgeon was generally not troubled by litigation from patients presenting as elective as well as emergency cases, but this aspect of custom has changed. Litigation by patients now significantly affects surgical practice and vicarious liability often affects hospitals. We discuss some fundamental legal definitions, a must to know for a surgeon, and highlight some interesting cases.
authors.affiliation: UCL Department of Surgery, University College London Medical School, London, UK. waseem_wk1@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerjes
authors.forename: Jaspal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahil
authors.forename: Tahwinder
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Upile
mesh_terms: D005062:European Union; D013502:General Surgery / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom