Avoiding Medicolegal Complications

Endoscopy can cause complications, even in the best of hands. Lawsuits are rare but more likely to be pursued when there is poor communication with patients and family before or after an event occurs. The likelihood of a suit (and of its success) can be minimized by practicing within accepted standards; by careful objective documentation of the education and consent process, and of the events themselves; and by a systematized approach to event management.