Whether it is reasonable for a specialist to rely on the primary care physician for certain aspects of a patient’s condition most likely varies with the circumstances. But making that understanding clear, and documenting it, is the best way to avoid any unmet expectations.

Though claims for “negligent infliction of emotional distress” brought by a patient’s family are difficult to prove, a court recently supported a jury’s award to the relatives of a patient who experienced distress after surgery.

Utilization Review: an injured worker will get another chance to argue that an alleged injury was induced by fault in a physician's utilization review.

Electronic chart narratives containing standard, generalized phraseology will bear poor witness in a subsequent dispute over medical care.

The responsibility of a specialist to make a referral to another specialist — or instead rely on the primary care physician — will depend on a number of variables. But at the very least, the medical record on the issue should avoid ambiguity.