The jury shall decide!

Those familiar with the code of professional conduct, set forth by the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC), know of the expectations for case managers' behaviors. Professionals making application for certification must sign a statement committing to case management practice consistent with the law and the ethical requirements for their primary profession. The case manager's role and function have been repeatedly studied, based on input from the field and review of the literature. The outcomes are consistent with these foundations: advocate for the patient/client and act in the patient's best interest. Increasingly, case managers are becoming the focus of a lawsuit when it appears that they have done other than advocate for the individual or act in the individual's best interest. The three cases and information presented here are all public information; however, they have been disguised for publication purposes. Should one or all of these cases proceed to court, the jury shall decide if the case manager's actions were consistent with the standard of care. Reflect on your own practice as you consider each actual case.