Can I be sued if my patient injures someone else?

June 15, 2008

The short answer is yes, under a recent ruling from Massachusetts’ highest court, and it’s still not clear how far this ruling could extend.

In December, the court ruled in Coombes v. Florio that a woman could sue a doctor who prescribed a drug that allegedly caused the elderly driver of a vehicle to pass out behind the wheel. The vehicle struck and killed the woman’s 10-year-old son.

Doctors shouldn’t change their prescription practices as a result, insurers and attorneys advise, but they should be very careful to document their warnings – and in some cases they should follow up more carefully to see if a patient is becoming impaired by a medication’s side effects.

Click here to read more about how to protect yourself from a lawsuit over the medications you prescribe to your patients.