Electronic health records (EHR) are a hot new topic in health care right now. That brings up one big question: How might electronic data factor into a medical liability lawsuit?
Since most electronic data is discoverable in lawsuits, the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) has created a guide for physicians called “eDiscovery: What Physicians Need to Know .”
The guide includes definitions of what counts as electronic data, what is considered to be discoverable, how data can support the event that led to the medical liability suit, and how some workarounds used by staff could cause problems later in a lawsuit.
The guide offers physicians practical tips on how to appropriately use EHR systems to avoid violating eDiscovery rules.