Biomaterial Database

Instruction on health care malpractice issues in entry-level physical therapy curricula. 1990

R W Scott

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, Ft. Polk, Louisiana 71459.

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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008318	Malpractice	Failure of a professional person, a physician or lawyer, to render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Professional Negligence,Negligence,Negligence, Professional,Professional Negligences
D003479	Curriculum	A course of study offered by an educational institution.	Curricula,Short-Term Courses,Course, Short-Term,Courses, Short-Term,Short Term Courses,Short-Term Course
D004500	Education, Graduate	Studies beyond the bachelor's degree at an institution having graduate programs for the purpose of preparing for entrance into a specific field, and obtaining a higher degree.	Graduate Education,Educations, Graduate,Graduate Educations
D013663	Teaching	A formal and organized process of transmitting knowledge to a person or group.	Teaching Method,Training Activity,Training Technique,Academic Training,Educational Technics,Educational Techniques,Pedagogy,Teaching Methods,Technics, Educational,Techniques, Educational,Training Activities,Training Technics,Training Techniques,Activities, Training,Activity, Training,Educational Technic,Educational Technique,Method, Teaching,Methods, Teaching,Pedagogies,Technic, Educational,Technic, Training,Technics, Training,Technique, Educational,Technique, Training,Techniques, Training,Training Technic,Training, Academic
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D026741	Physical Therapy Modalities	Therapeutic modalities frequently used in PHYSICAL THERAPY SPECIALTY by PHYSICAL THERAPISTS or physiotherapists to promote, maintain, or restore the physical and physiological well-being of an individual.	Physical Therapy,Physiotherapy (Techniques),Group Physiotherapy,Neurological Physiotherapy,Neurophysiotherapy,Physical Therapy Techniques,Group Physiotherapies,Modalities, Physical Therapy,Modality, Physical Therapy,Physical Therapies,Physical Therapy Modality,Physical Therapy Technique,Physiotherapies (Techniques),Physiotherapies, Group,Physiotherapy, Group,Physiotherapy, Neurological,Techniques, Physical Therapy,Therapy, Physical