Question & Discussion

1. Determine the importance of a thorough understanding of the legal liability of health care institutions from the Chief Medical Officer’s viewpoint. When you come across a legal issue that you do not understand, describe what your action steps might be.

Differentiate between corporate liability and liability under respondent superior, and how expert testimony might be needed in each instance.

2. Explain who has the authority to admit a patient to the hospital. In most cases, patients do not have the right to be admitted. Assume you were part of a training team responsible for assimilating patient registration teams to the policies of a facility. Develop a policy that educates them on patient administration and discuss what you deemed significant to point out.
Evaluate the types of issues a hospital and physician may confront when discharging a patient. Develop a policy for staff to implement based on the issues identified.