Risk Management Information Ruled Accessible To Plaintiff Attorneys

Risk managers for hospitals and other health care providers are going to have to deal with a disturbing trend, says a client alert from LeClairRyan. In malpractice cases, it is becoming easier for plaintiff attorneys to access risk management information long considered sacrosanct, “including documents pertaining to investigations of incident reports and unanticipated outcomes.” The writers look specifically at two recent cases in Virginia but point out that recent case law suggests it’s a national trend, and healthcare risk managers are going to have to adjust accordingly. “For starters,” they write, “training, policies and procedures should be organized around the mantra ‘Stick to the facts.’”