Law and Medicine: Recent Episodes
Victor Cotton, MD, JD
Dr. Cotton discusses how disagreeing with COVID consensus can result in the loss of your medical license.
Description: Dr. Cotton discusses the ethical transgressions of Medical Apology Programs
Dr. Cotton discusses why noncompete clauses in physician employment contracts are a violation of federal law.
Dr. Cotton uses the geographic nature of malpractice risk to demonstrate that our understanding of lawsuits is badly flawed.
Dr. Cotton discusses the Harvard Medical Practice Study and compares its findings to the principles of modern risk management.
Description: Dr. Cotton discusses the incredible malpractice protection that clinicians have during the COVID pandemic.
Dr. Cotton shares data showing that medical-legal education has conveyed more misinformation than it has information.
Dr. Cotton discusses gender-based pay disparity in the medical profession and offers several options that would quickly fix the problem.
Dr. Cotton discusses the misguided risk management strategy of eliminating big ego physicians.
Dr. Cotton discusses the disastrous risk management strategy of tracking patients and reminding them to keep their appointments.
Mandatory cognitive testing of older physicians is now part of hospital credentialing at many institutions. Although this practice is advanced in the name of patient safety, Dr. Cotton discusses how it illegally discriminates against older physicians and opens the door for other types of even worse discrimination
Dr. Cotton critiques the critique of a malpractice case and demonstrates the proper approach to the law.
Although it is widely believed that there is a physician shortage, the data shows just the opposite. And, the oversupply of physicians is hurting the profession in multiple ways. Listen to Dr. Cotton discuss this dilemma.
Curbside consults, where physicians informally solicit one another’s opinion, are an integral part of patient care, and they are absolutely invaluable when formal consultation is unavailable or impractical. Unfortunately, the medical legal community views curbside consults as a sloppy and dangerous practice that carries unacceptable legal risk.
Victor Cotton MD, JD discusses 15 legal and financial terms that physicians should know before deciding to leave a job.
Victor Cotton MD, JD discusses why genetic testing for hereditary cancers is the greatest malpractice threat of our time. Patients who harbor pathogenic mutations are at very high risk of developing cancer, often at a young age. Unfortunately, despite screening recommendations from numerous professional organizations, the vast majority of these patients have not been tested or identified.
The practice of ordering tests and treatments just to reduce one's legal exposure is estimated to add 5% to the cost of healthcare. Victor Cotton MD, JD analyzes whether we can reduce this practice and thereby save healthcare dollars by enacting tort reform.