The office-based orthopaedist

A roundtable discussion Recently, John M. Purvis, MD, a member of the AAOS Now editorial board, held a roundtable discussion on the pros and cons of being an office-based orthopaedist, who no longer performs surgery. Joining Dr. Purvis were Charles E. Baker, MD, who returned to practice with the Fondren Orthopedic Group, Houston, Texas, after 9 years of retirement; Robert E. Eilert, MD, emeritus professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Denver; Frank B.

How likely are you to be sued?

Alan Lembitz, MD

It’s not a question of whether, but when…and how to reduce your risk Did you know that the cumulative likelihood of a physician in the highest risk specialties (neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, and plastic surgery) having a medical liability claim is 88 percent by age 45 and 99 percent by age 65?

Avoiding a lawsuit: Lessons from the never-sued

Theodore J. Clarke, MD

An orthopaedic career without a single lawsuit is possible In orthopaedics, the average physician is named in a lawsuit once every 7 years. So can a practicing orthopaedist have a 40-year career without being sued? In my position as CEO and Chairman of COPIC, a medical liability company, I have been privileged to know several surgeons who have had long careers without a lawsuit.

You’ve been sued: Tips for defendant doctors

David D. Teuscher, MD; Douglas W. Lundy, MD

A lawsuit won’t go away—but here’s how you can deal with it You were out in the garage packing implants for a medical mission trip to Kenya when the deputy drove up to serve you with the complaint. (This actually happened.) Immediately, your entire world turned upside-down. The normal homeostasis of your life shattered. You can’t think, your mouth is dry, your palms are sweaty, and closing your eyes doesn’t make it any better.