Balancing the Legal Risk to the Clinician with the Medical Interests of the Patient

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2025 Feb;43(1):9-18. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2024.05.021. Epub 2024 Jul 4.

Abstract

The balance between risk of missing serious disease and potential harms from over testing involves knowledge of the literature, familiarity of clinical guidelines, incorporation of clinical decision tools where appropriate, use of metacognition to be aware of cognitive decisions to respond and use of shared decision-making in the context of a patient's presentation and with the guidance of the clinician.

Keywords: Balance risk and benefit; Emergency medicine; Risk management.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Decision-Making*
  • Decision Making, Shared
  • Humans
  • Malpractice / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Physician-Patient Relations