Educational Objectives:

Risk is a variable with which we all contend aiming to achieve a balance of benefit. Given the complexity of the genome, it is small wonder so many are born “normal,” but at risk for a range of different disabling disorders. Compounding these given risks are those added by invasive techniques using, for example, pacemakers, stents and cardioverter-defibrillators. It was certainly disheartening to hear about late complications of drug-eluting stents and potentially fatal malfunction of implantable cardioverterdefibrillators. Dramatic cardiac interventions certainly capture the imagination (especially the adverse events), but the more common morbidities and mortality arise from simple, banal events. Published studies reveal that between 1.2% and 1.4% (at least) of neonatal in-patients are affected by medical errors. The simplest is nosocomial infections followed by respiratory events, both of which could be fatal. Even simpler, is a fall from a hospital stretcher resulting in serious injury (a $1.4 million verdict!). Nearly 8,000 older Americans fell, sustained a brain injury, and died, in 2005, with another 56,000 requiring hospital treatment. Ultimately our biggest risk is from our health-care providers. That’s why there is so much negligence, and why we meet again and again.

The focus of this conference is to teach physicians to better comprehend the machinations of negligence law, and to develop a more complete awareness of the need for anticipatory and safety practices. The objective is also to teach lawyers about the complex issues encountered in the practice of medicine, aiming to sharpen their understanding on behalf of their clients, both plaintiff and defense.

Major topics include:

• Ovarian cancer: risks of other cancers
• Geriatric trauma and litigation: an increasing problem
• Guidelines for not overlooking spinal injury
• The missed heart attack
• Laparoscopy: issues in bariatric and cancer surgery
• Seizures due to intrapartum hypoxia: really?
• Pitfalls in the emergency evaluation of thunderclap headaches
• Avoiding diagnostic errors in thoracic trauma imaging
• Pacemakers and defibrillators: deadly devices and legal consequences
• Breast cancer management: standards of care
• Emergency evaluation of abdominal pain in the elderly
• Cancer, family history, and litigation
• "Benign" breast disease: minefield for the unwary
• The clot thickens: stents, risk, and liability
• Standards of care in imaging abdominal trauma
• Twin-twin transfusion and TRAP sequence
• Rescue by birth (and from liability)
• Cancer of the cervix: second malignancy and potential liability
• Competence to consent
• Vicarious liability for the resident and/or midwife
• Suing the physician's estate
  
  
  

Registration

Continental Breakfast

Welcome and Introduction
Aubrey Milunsky, M.D., D.Sc.

Recognition and Management of Two Complications of Monochorionic Twins: Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and TRAP Sequence
Michael A. Belfort, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.O.G.

Post-Term Pregnancy: Rescue by Birth (and From Liability)
Errol R. Norwitz, M.D., Ph.D.

Hypothermia for the Near-Term and Term Infant with Hypoxic Ischemia Encephalopathy: Ready for Prime Time?
Neil N. Finer, M.D.

Refreshment Break

Cancer of the Uterus
Larry J. Copeland, M.D.

Personal and Institutional Guidelines in the Prevention of Medication Errors
J. Lyle Bootman, Ph.D., Sc.D.

Medicolegal Forum
W. Mark Lanier, J.D. and John A. Scully, J.D.

• Wisdom (?) and Admissibility of Apologies
• Is it Ever Appropriate to Sue the Physician's Estate?
• Stillbirth: A Cause of Action for Wrongful Life?
• Focus Groups, Mock Juries, and Jury Consultants
• Vicarious Liability for the Resident and/or Midwife
• Informed Consent During Labor?
• Competence to Consent: Who Judges and How?
  
  

Adjourn

 

Continental Breakfast

Standards of Expected Care in the Emergency Department Management of Geriatric Trauma
O. John Ma, M.D.

Guidelines for Imaging Spine Trauma with Radiographs, CT and MR: Injuries that Could be Overlooked on Inappropriate and Suboptimal Examinations
Robert A. Novelline, M.D., F.A.C.R.

The Missed Heart Attack: Avoidable, Dangerous, and Expensive
Brian P. Griffin, M.D., M.R.C.P.I., F.A.C.C.

Refreshment Break

Emerging Issues in Laparoscopic Surgery with Special Reference to Bariatric and Cancer Surgery
Carol E. H. Scott-Conner, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Were the Seizures Due to Intrapartum Hypoxia?
Aubrey Milunsky, M.D., D.Sc.

Pitfalls in the Emergency Evaluation of Thunderclap and Other Severe Headaches
O. John Ma, M.D.

Imaging Thoracic Trauma: Avoiding Diagnostic Errors and Oversights by Optimizing Imaging Procedures and Protocols
Robert A. Novelline, M.D., F.A.C.R.

Adjourn

Continental Breakfast

Device Recall in Pacemakers and Defibrillators: A New Epidemic - Medical and Legal Risks
Brian P. Griffin, M.D., M.R.C.P.I., F.A.C.C.

Standards of Expected Care in the Management of Breast Cancer That is Locally Advanced at Diagnosis
Carol E. H. Scott-Conner, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Imaging Abdominal Trauma: Avoiding Diagnostic Errors and Oversights by Optimizing Imaging Procedures and Protocols
Robert A. Noveliine, M.D., F.A.C.R.

Refreshment Break

Emergency Department Evaluation of Abdominal Pain in the Elderly
O. John Ma, M.D.

Cancer, Family History, and Litigation
Aubrey Milunsky, M.D., D.Sc.

"Benign" Breast Cancer: A Minefield for the Unwary
Carol E. H. Scott-Conner, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Thrombotic Events After Drug Eluting Coronary Stents: Who is at Risk and Who Will Have to Pay?
Brian P. Griffin, M.D., M.R.C.P.I., F.A.C.C.

Adjourn