Authors: Geneva M Edwards MD, MHA, BSN, RN.
Legal Medicine consists of a broad range of legal, medical, and ethical issues, as well as human rights and rights of individuals. This discipline specialty is necessary in the healthcare profession because healthcare providers have a duty to act in a patients’ best interest always. If healthcare professions fail to meet this duty they can and will be charged in a court of law. Medical Malpractice is defined as the legal cause of action that occurs when a healthcare
professional deviates from the standard of care in his or her profession, thereby causing harm to a patient and happens when a patient is harmed by a healthcare professional who failed to meet the standard of care. When a healthcare provider does not meet the standard of care, they have breached their contract with their patient.
The concept of the standard of care is often discussed among healthcare providers, and yet the legal definition of this term is frequently not understood. It is estimated that 7–17 malpractice claims are filed per 100 healthcare providers every year with emergency healthcare providers on the front lines in healthcare provision and therefore are frequently involved in medical malpractice cases. Many healthcare professionals need to review evidencebased practices that focus on standard of care and review the best research and clinical expertise to assist them in meeting the needs of patients, far beyond optimum care provision; helping them avoid any mishaps along the way.
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