Medical Liability and the Neonatologist

Abstract

Medical malpractice litigation is a fact of life. The American tort system is outcomes based, and a poor outcome often leads to a medical malpractice lawsuit. Neonatologists practice in a complex setting that deals with critically ill infants at a high risk for complications and poor outcomes. Understanding the components of medical malpractice, recognizing areas of risk, and practicing within a system of prospective risk management can go a long way to not only reduce the risk of litigation but also improve patient safety and ultimately patient outcomes.