Medical and educational malpractice issues in patient education

This paper discusses the concept of educational malpractice as a cause of prolonged patient morbidity equal in magnitude to medical malpractice. Statements by national groups sanctioning and urging increased patient education efforts are reviewed. An example of specially designed problem-oriented patient education materials development, the concept of an "Educational Prescription," the place for the "Educational Prescription" in problem-oriented medical records, and the value of hospital-based patient education as a cost-containment activity.