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Abstract

Anesthesiologists often practice in a relatively high-risk environment and therefore should carry medical malpractice insurance in order to protect personal assets from potential lawsuits. Professional liability insurance is an essential tool to protect an anesthesiologist’s practice and license and personal finances from legal threats. Generally, it is agreed that effective communication as well as obtaining informed consent preoperatively and practicing within the standard of care are important tools used to minimize the risk of liability. Additionally, adequate documentation and an appropriate response to a medical error or a bad outcome may further decrease the chances of a lawsuit. The aim of this chapter is to highlight major aspects of professional liability as detailed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

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Correspondence to Jonathan P. Eskander .

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Eskander, J.P., Eskander, T.M.P., LeMense, J.A. (2019). Professional Liability. In: Fox, III, C., Cornett, E., Ghali, G. (eds) Catastrophic Perioperative Complications and Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96125-5_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96125-5_25

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