Instruction on health care malpractice issues in entry-level physical therapy curricula

In the face of an ongoing health care malpractice crisis, instruction on malpractice issues in entry-level health care professional education programs is vital for the legal well-being of prospective clinicians. A 1978 survey of US medical schools revealed that less than 40% required instruction in medical law. By 1989, 76% of US medical schools required medicolegal instruction. This article summarizes the results of a survey of entry-level physical therapy educational programs to determine whether a majority currently offer required malpractice instruction. The study found that the majority do offer such instruction. Half of the physical therapy programs with instruction in malpractice employ attorney instructors, essential for improving relations between health care and legal professionals. Graduate entry-level programs offer 11 or more hours of medicolegal instruction with greater frequency than undergraduate programs. Additional surveys of other allied health disciplines are recommended to ascertain other standards for entry-level malpractice-related instruction.