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Article: The medical examiner and deaths in the hospital setting.
- Article from:
- Physician Executive
- Article date:
- April 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 American College of Physician Executives. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In a recent study,[1] 24 percent of families indicated that they filed a claim because physicians had failed to be completely honest and to inform them of the facts surrounding the death or, in some cases, intentionally misled them. In another 20 per cent of cases, families indicated that they could not understand the facts of the case and that no one took the time to adequately explain them. This study highlights the fact that open communication between families, treating physicians, hospitals, and the investigative aspects of the death greatly decrease the number of medical neglisence claims. The medical examiner typically serves as an impartial, neutral conveyor of ...