Polemics in Risk Management: Charting,the Art of Informed Consent,and other Basics

Abstract

There is a subtle strandard of care that is never spoken about or referred to directly, yet it exists. It is the standard of care related to charting. Triers of fact like jurors, judges, and arbitrators have expectations regarding how a professional maintains charts and records, and, accordingly, that standard must be met. Failure to do so inevitably results in a twofold conclusion; professional negligence is easier to find for a plaintiff's attorney inductively looking for it in conjunction with his or her expert; and, the case is easier to ultimately prove to the trier of fact. Cosmetic surgeons must therefore raise the level of consciousness about charting.