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According to one study, a New Year’s Day resolution to change or establish a habit may not really take hold until mid-March, even for people fully committed to their resolutions.
But, for individuals who are contending with weight, fitness, or substance use issues—and begin the year with the determination to change their behavior—the odds of maintaining that commitment into February are dismaying. Nevertheless, finding ways to help your patients persevere could also help reduce the risk of diagnostic, treatment, or medication-related errors.

A 65-year-old male was admitted for treatment of lymphoma…

As health care has evolved from a paternalist, physician centric model to a team-based, patient-centered model reliant on shared decision making, so too has the terminology used to describe contrary behavior.

Inadequate patient assessment is a contributing factor in more than half of all medical malpractice cases.

Every medical malpractice claim or lawsuit states or implies an allegation of negligent or substandard care. The allegation frames the plaintiff’s connection between the health care the patient expected and an adverse outcome of that care.

Every July, the latest class of physicians in training begins to apply the wisdom of “learn from your mistakes” in situations with dramatically elevated consequences. Embracing the upside of one’s inexperience is decidedly more daunting when you’re in a new environment and striving to prove you belong there. When things do go wrong, residents need reassurance that they are part of a team, not alone. And supervising attendings and other team members should lead trainees from any missteps toward learning opportunities.

Primary care clinicians who see patients ages 40–70 are at the front line of cancer detection and, thus, at risk of an allegation that they failed to make a timely cancer diagnosis. Practices that may help primary care providers reduce their risk of being sued include routinely updating family histories, recognizing cancer risks for younger patients with certain histories and symptoms,1 and coordinating care with other providers who share a patient’s diagnostic process.

Over the years, clinicians working in a surgical environment have become inured to poor communication and behavior from their surgical colleagues. Beyond the destructive impact these interactions may have on professional relationships, they can also lead to medical error resulting from breakdowns in the flow of communication within the clinical team.

A recent spate of publicity about exceedingly large medical malpractice awards* is emotionally jarring, but distressed health care providers should note that such awards are extremely unusual.