Bad medical outcomes traumatize patients and also traumatize physicians. This book shows how each bad outcome goes through the same judicial stages of complaint, discovery, depositions, motions, and delays that lead to trial, settlement, or being dropped. It helps doctors understand and navigate the legal system while honouring their own ideals.

This well-documented book will help doctors understand and navigate the legal system while honouring their own ideals and emerging changed but stronger from the experience.

PROLOGUE -- FOUR DAYS IN THE NINETIES
1. Adverse Events: A Basis for Litigation
2. Adverse Events: What We Feel and Why
3. Disclosure After an Adverse Event
4. Adverse Events: What Doctors Can Say about Them
5. The Interim: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop
6. The Complaint: A Prelude to Litigation
7. Meeting the Lawyers
8. Coping
With the Stress of Litigation
9. Discovery: Gaining a Foothold for the Defense of our claim
10. To Settle or not to Settle
11. The Trial
12. Case Over: What's Next
13. Closing Arguments
Appendix: 1 Case Histories
Appendix: 2 Notes on a Case
GLOSSARY