In 2014, the era of health care reform will fully take effect. The many changes will bring uncertainty to health care providers, as well as patients.

Cobb v. Grant was one of the first California cases to establish two informed consent components: The patient’s right of self-determination (no matter how bad the decision) and the physician’s non-delegable responsibility, due to advanced training, knowledge, and expertise, to adequately communicate information to the patient through the informed consent process that would enable the patient to determine the course of treatment he or she chooses.

A physician involved in a lengthy surgery was properly suspended from the hospital staff, the Court of Appeal has ruled, dismissing the physician’s challenge to the hospital’s peer review process.

This sentinel event-related data, reported to The Joint Commission from our accredited organizations, demonstrates the need of the Joint Commission and accredited health care organizations to continue to address these serious adverse events.

Adapting Aviation’s ‘Sterile Cockpit Rule’ to Improve Patient Safety in the OR