Clinical trials for the blood substitute PolyHeme exposed the possibility for ambiguous interpretation of the FDA’s waiver of informed consent for emergency research.

Physicians have a professional obligation and, in many states, a legal duty to report drivers whose functional or cognitive impairments may pose a safety hazard.

Two cases of physician failure to report possible child abuse that led to legal claims of malpractice and civil liability.

A surgical patient must be informed if anyone other than the attending physician will take a significant role in the surgery.

Medical standards of care and legal standards of reliability and relevance sometimes conflict in courtroom settings.

The legal battle Oregon is facing over physician-assisted suicide affects a patient terminally ill with liver cancer who has expressed desire to end her own life.

An ethical case explores a lawsuit against Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center of Seattle by patients who claimed they were not told of the full risks associated with a clinical trial they participated in.

Termination of hospital privileges for physicians who show unprofessional and careless behavior can help improve overall patient care.

The Model State Emergency Health Powers Act proposes state legislation that should be enacted to ensure an adequate and coordinated response to public health emergencies.

Physicians for sports teams may not allow team management and coaches to dictate medical treatment or diagnosis of an athlete-patient.