Medical Malpractice

1 Credit Hour

The American medical malpractice system is one of the most controversial subjects in health law and policy. The cost (and perceived cost) of malpractice on health quality and spending has been a central subject of political debate for decades. This course provides an introduction and overview of malpractice law, with a focus on identifying the duties that both individual and institutional providers owe to their patients. More specifically, the course will include a brief introduction to the common law of torts, a survey of the law required to establish a prima facie case, the role that medical malpractice insurance plays in the system, and an analysis of potential policy reforms.