Differentiating Negligent Standards of Care in Diagnosis.
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Publication Date
2022-02-23Journal Title
Med Law Rev
ISSN
0967-0742
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Liddell, K., Skopek, J. M., Le Gallez, I., & Fritz, Z. (2022). Differentiating Negligent Standards of Care in Diagnosis.. Med Law Rev https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwab046
Abstract
Diagnosis lies at the heart of the medical encounter, yet it has received much less attention than treatment. It is widely assumed that negligent diagnosis claims should be governed by the Bolam test, but we demonstrate that this is not always the case. First, we disaggregate the diagnostic process into three different acts: forming the diagnosis, communicating it to the patient, and recording it. Second, we consider alternatives to Bolam for defining negligence, including less deferential profession-led standards, patient-led standards, and even a reasonable person standard. Third, bringing together these distinctions-within the diagnostic process, and between standards of care-we reveal the unappreciated complexity of negligent diagnosis. Analysing the standard of care that might apply to the three different acts in the diagnostic process, we identify reasons to think that Montgomery should apply to the communication of a diagnosis. We also argue that even in areas where the law is well-established, such as the application of Bolam to the formation of a diagnosis, challenging questions arise that require further attention. Throughout, the framework and analysis that we develop have significant implications for a set of negligence cases, as well as for medical education, clinical guidelines, and patient care.
Sponsorship
This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust 208213/Z/17/Z. For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.'
This project was funded by the Wellcome Trust grant number 208213/Z/17/Z. ZF and ILG are based in The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute (THIS Institute), University of Cambridge. THIS Institute is supported by the Health Foundation, an independent charity committed to bringing about better health and healthcare for people in the UK.
Funder references
Wellcome Trust (208213/Z/17/Z)
Embargo Lift Date
2024-01-12
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/medlaw/fwab046
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/331561
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