Breast cancer evaluation. Medical-legal and risk management considerations for the clinician.

Abstract

The legal consequences for physicians involved in the treatment of patients who are at risk for or have developed breast cancer are many. The law of negligence, which is concerned with departures from reasonable standards of conduct, govern most of the cases that come to legal attention. Several other torts or civil infractions, however, may be applicable to such practices. Lessons learned from both trial and appellate decisions rendered in this field offer some guidance to avoid untoward medical and legal consequences.