New Jersey Medical Malpractice Law provides a comprehensive, reader-friendly guide for all medical malpractice practitioners. Discretely focused subheadings allow users to precisely pinpoint relevant discussions, and footnotes highlight helpful resources and explanations. The chapters address issues as they commonly arise through the litigation process--from considering the elements of a malpractice cause of action, through investigating and preparing a case, to managing trial issues. Chapters are organized to address the issues as they commonly arise for the practicing attorney through the litigation process, from evaluation of potential claims and consideration of the elements of a malpractice cause of action, through pretrial investigation and case preparation, and finally, to the trial. Footnotes provide helpful explanatory information and resources, and add to the ease of finding answers quickly. Descriptive and discretely focused subheadings allow the reader to pinpoint precisely the discussion most relevant to his or her concerns. Practice pointers appear at the end of each chapter to aid in navigating complex medical malpractice cases. Chapters 1 and 2 discuss the first essential component of medical malpractice causes of action, the breach of a health care provider's duty of care or failure to obtain informed consent. Chapter 3 addresses related but distinct causes of action such as assault and battery, fraud, breach of contract, medical records alteration or destruction and sexual misconduct. Chapters 4 and 5 discuss the second and third essential components of malpractice cases, causation, and damages. Chapter 4 has been revised to keep pace with the evolving complex case law governing proof of proximate causation in cases involving pre-existing injuries, delayed cancer diagnoses and avoidable consequences. Chapter 5 discusses damages claims in general, and those particular to malpractice and wrongful death causes of action. Chapters 6 through 9 deal with issues related to pretrial proceedings and trial of malpractice cases, including pre-suit investigation of such claims. Chapter 7 has been revised to discuss the rapidly changing case law regarding the affidavit of merit, pretrial discovery, and presents an extremely thorough discussion of expert testimony, particularly as it evolves through the implementation of the New Jersey Medical Care Access and Responsibility and Patients First Act. These chapters also examine the pleadings, defenses including the statute of limitations, voir dire and jury charges specific to malpractice cases. Finally, Chapter 10 provides a thorough discussion of the federal and New Jersey statutes and regulations regarding electronic medical records. ,

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.

Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

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