RT Book, Section
A1 Mattox, Kenneth L.
A1 Mitchell, Stacey
A2 Moore, Ernest E.
A2 Feliciano, David V.
A2 Mattox, Kenneth L.
SR Print(0)
ID 1141191826
T1 Trauma, Medicine, and the Law
T2 Trauma, 8e
YR 2017
FD 2017
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071847292
LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1141191826
RD 2024/04/19
AB The  complexity  of  the  interactions  of  the  medical  and  legal  profession  has  increased  in  both  complexity  and  number  with  each  passing  year.  No  longer  does  the  focus  relate  only  to  fear  of  being  sued,  testifying  in  court,  and  preparing  for  a  deposition.  There  is  the  added  dimension  of  in-hospital  legal  council  in  most  hospitals,  and  they  play  a  significant  role  in  any  medical  legal  situation.  This  chapter  cannot  cover  all  aspects,  but  will  attempt  to  focus  on  the  major  concerns  a  physician  must  have  when  treating  an  injured  patient—the  intersection/interaction  among  trauma,  forensic  medicine,  and  the  law.  Forensic  and  legal  issues  surface  daily  in  trauma  care  but  may  be  overlooked  or  unidentified  due  to  the  urgency  of  the  situation.  Health  care  providers  are  able  to  and,  indeed,  need  to  provide  lifesaving  measures  and  “think  forensically”  at  the  same  time.  By  considering  the  forensic  and  legal  implications,  evidence  that  may  be  vital  to  the  outcome  of  a  legal  case  is  preserved  without  impeding  appropriate  medical  care.