Ethical and Malpractice Issues of Psychologists in Hospital Practice

With increasing frequency, psychologists are working within a hospital setting. The reasons are varied: patients must be hospitalized; opportunities exist to work with other healthcare providers; and insurance companies require hospital privileges as a prerequisite for reimbursement. This expansion out of the private office to the hospital not only creates a more challenging and rewarding practice but it also gives rise to new ethical and malpractice dilemmas for the psychologist.

Wrongful Birth

Wrongful Birth

Liability of Charitable Hospitals

In the past, the courts of many states concluded that private charitable hospitals were not liable for the tortious conduct of their doctors and nurses. The principal reasons given in defense of this blanket immunity included:

How to Prepare for A Deposition as a Medical Malpractice Plaintiff

How to Prepare for a Deposition as a Medical Malpractice Plaintiff

Failure to Properly Interpret a Physician's Medication Order

When you are being treated in a hospital or in any other healthcare organization, you have the right to expect that you will be given the correct medication in the proper dose at the proper time. However, the number of medication errors is increasing in recent years, and the problem has become a major health care concern. Even though the prescription and administrative of medication is a routine part of medical, nursing, and pharmaceutical practice, deviations from proper practice have the potential to severely injury or even kill an unwary patient.