Liability issues with the Papanicolaou smear: general legal background

All diagnosticians are aware of malpractice and its implications. To allay justifiable fears, familiarity with legal terminology and legal procedures is invaluable. In this article, the ramifications of malpractice coverage, the tenets of risk management, and the proceedings related to a malpractice lawsuit are clarified. Factors that can decrease the possibility of a lawsuit are clear communication, precise documentation, and attention to the multiple details that are intrinsic for every laboratory.