Family Practitioner Treats Patient for Depression While Sleeping With His Wife on the Side

It is not uncommon for patients to develop romantic feelings for their doctors. Managing these emotions is critical. When these emotions are mismanaged, bad outcomes often result. A family practice doctor was treating a husband and his wife for an assortment of challenges. To make a long story short – the patient’s wife (who was also … Read more

Is Sex with a Patient ALWAYS Unprofessional Conduct?

Most Boards of Medicine take a draconian view towards sex with patients. If a complaint is filed, and the sexual relationship began in the middle of a doctor-patient relationship, discipline likely will ensue. The interpretation is absolute.   With most crimes, guilt/innocence and the penalty are defined by the defendant’s state of mind. Very few things in the … Read more

Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

  A patient’s autonomy to make decisions regarding their health is a bedrock axiom of medical ethics. A doctor may disagree with a patient’s course of action, but, it’s their life. Of course, the doctor does not have to be a willing participant in that patient’s case if he disagrees with the patient’s choices. The … Read more

A Prescription for Humanity in Medicine – Featuring Dr. Joseph Stern and Dr. Jeff Segal | The Medical Liability Minute Podcast

On this episode of the Medical Liability Minute, Medical Justice Founder and CEO, Jeff Segal, MD, JD, and neurosurgeon Joseph Stern, MD, FACS, discuss the critical role of empathy in neurosurgery and patient care. Neurosurgeons (and surgeons in general) have a reputation for being cold. Deserved or not, the stereotype has stuck. Dr. Joseph Stern argues embracing … Read more

The Slippery Descent of Someone with Little Grip on Reality

Michael Arnstein ran a gemstone and jewelry business in Manhattan. He was irked by a number of negative online reviews. So, what did he do? He fired up Photoshop. Between 2014 and 2017, Arnstein forged over ten court orders that he submitted to Google to de-index pages with unsavory comments of his business.  He actually succeeded early on with what was a bona fide court … Read more

Paying Some Patients to Stay Away from Your Office

Most patients are happy with their choice of doctor. They appreciate the job their doctors do. There’s a mutual respect.   If only that were the case with all patients.  I spoke with one surgeon last week. He admitted if he had known how difficult one patient would have been, he would have prevented her from scheduling an appointment. In fact, … Read more

A Universe of Unavoidable Errors

A colleague, Robert Yoho, M.D., is writing a book about the practice of medicine. It included reflections on medical errors. I am sharing with his permission verbatim. I had drinks with a sixty-year-old attorney who said he had never made a mistake with a client. I tried to be polite for a few minutes and asked … Read more

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished – Chapter Gazillion

Dr. Kenneth Woliner is a physician in Florida. The Board of Medicine revoked his license. The Board used a surreptitious tape recording from a family member to render its judgment.   The 11th Circuit Appellate Court just ruled against the Board– opining “not so fast.”   Dr. Woliner treated a young woman with Stage 3 Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She passed away from her illness. … Read more

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