The history of accountability: From immunity to liability. Dissecting the malpractice problem. Hospitals' response: Insurance options and risk management. Physician-related medical injury. Mounting a program to prevent medically related injuries. Relating patient injury pre- vention to quality assurance. Organization and implementation of a patient injury prevention system.

This reference provides a guide for establishing or fine-tuning an effective hospital-wide risk management program. Advanced techniques for minimizing medically-related patient injuries, monitoring clinical staff, revising the incident reporting system for maximum efficency & value, & many other topics are discussed in this volume.

The second edition of this book has been significantly expanded to provide in-depth perspective on the risk-management technique that can be most effective in preventing patient injury and minimizing malpractice and other liability exposure and loss. Part one provides an historical overview of the malpractice problem, its many causes, and traditional approaches to solving it. Part two presents focused strategies and specific techniques for hospitals to take charge of the malpractice and liability problem and bring it firmly under control.

This volume presents, from an international legal perspective, research on the legal liability of hospitals in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa. It describes and explains the following grounds or theories which establish liability in the legal systems of the various countries: - indirect or vicarious liability; - direct or primary liability; - liability in terms of the non-delegable duty; - breach of contract; and - doctrines invoking liability. Detailed discussion of case law - including cases involving such related areas as the liability of airlines, shipping companies, and other groups - shows how the different grounds in various countries' legal systems are successfully applied. The Legal Liability of Hospitals will be of great value to practising lawyers, law students and teachers, and health care management officials.