Why Patients Sue Doctors

Why do patients sue their doctors? The answer is not straightforward. It is unlikely to be singular. One thing, however, is certain: the answer is important to the quality of health care. This book provides answers to this important question.

In Why Patients sue Doctors the authors draw on their collective experience in over 1000 real-life medicolegal cases to explore why and how doctors make mistakes. By analysing and discussing the situations and behaviours that lead to complaints by patients and their families, this book provides practical guidance on how to improve clinical care and avoid litigation. The lessons learned will help practitioners in the future avoid some common clinical pitfalls of the past.

This will be of immediate interest to anyone concerned about the quality of healthcare and how to improve it. The cases presented by the authors will also be of general interest to those wishing to know more about medical litigation.

Table Of Contents: Introduction
Impaired doctors
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Delirium
Cerebral palsy
Postnatal depression
Syncope
Visual disturbance
Headache
Steroid toxicity
Sagging lip
Childhood cancer
Neck pain
Shoulder pain
Unexplained fever
Sore wrist
Haemoptysis
Dyspnoea
Chest pain
Breast lumps
Sick infant
Obesity
Abdominal pain
Unexplained weight loss
Rectal bleeding
Missed period
Pelvic organ prolapse
Leg weakness
Lacerated foot
Listening and observing
Thinking and reasoning
Professionalism and insight
Lessons for doctors and others
Further reading