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Risk Matters: M.E.D.I.C.

A few years ago, nationally recognized trial consultant, Dr. Jill Huntley Taylor, was a contributor to our live seminar program and wrote an article for our newsletter outlining juror expectations in a medical malpractice trial.  To identify these expectations, she uses the acronym “MEDIC” which stands for: 

Medicine - whether or not the standard of care was met will be in dispute;

Education - education is really about communication - communication to the patient about their medical condition and treatment plan, and communication within a medical practice;

Documentation - jurors look for evidence of both communication and medical care in the medical documentation and tend to rely heavily on what was documented contemporaneously;

Informed consent - one specific aspect of communication to which jurors pay very close attention is the informed consent process and they want the patient to be informed about what the medical treatment entails and what to expect, including potential side effects and complications - an informed patient is an empowered patient, and;

Caring - jurors take all the information that they can gather about that professional and determine, “is this someone I would want caring for me?" 

For a more in-depth discussion, read Dr. Huntley Taylor’s Sentinel article: Addressing Juror Expectations in Everyday Practice: MEDIC.

About The Author

Jeffrey A. Woods is the Risk and Practice Management Senior Attorney at SVMIC. Jeff received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee Martin and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Following graduation, he practiced law in Knoxville for almost 15 years, advising physicians and healthcare providers and defending them in malpractice claims. He is licensed to practice in Tennessee and all Federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association.

Jeff joined SVMIC in 2003 and was a Senior Claims Attorney until 2015 when he transferred to his current position.

The contents of The Sentinel are intended for educational/informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Policyholders are urged to consult with their personal attorney for legal advice, as specific legal requirements may vary from state to state and/or change over time.

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