An informal consultation at a casual lunch can result in a duty to a patient subjecting the consulting doctor to a malpractice claim. While collegiality is an important part of the practice of medicine, be aware of the risk. If you are engaging in an informal consultation, keep it informal and keep it generic. Consider documenting the informal consultation with a note indicating that only generic discussions were involved. Consult only in your area of expertise. If discussions go beyond informal, then make the consultation formal and go through all the appropriate steps for such a consult.
© 2008 Parsonage Vandenack Williams LLC
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