A review of three journal articles shows the significant impact that poverty has on physical and mental health status, as well as all causes of mortality.
Medical malpractice pits the legal system's ethics of client advocacy against the medical profession's ethics of patient advocacy. Fear of liability may lead to defensive medicine, an aberration of both professions' intent.
Health practitioners can help reduce health disparities if they consider the implications and affect that patients' geographical location has on their health.
Patients need to be aware that they are fully responsible for disclosing a complete medical history, and physicians may not be liable for damages if they do not comply.