Whitney A High

Guest Editor for the following articles:

Dec
2013
Vol. 32. No. 4

Medical Malpractice Lawsuits and the Value of Skilled and Diverse Legal Counsel

Alison C Sorkin, JD | Keith D Lapuyade, JD
Medical malpractice claims against dermatologists and dermapathologists arise mostly out of claims for negligence—when a patient claims a provider owed a duty to a patient, breached that duty, and caused damages to the patient. When a health care provider files a claim with his or her insurance company, the insurance company will usually retain and pay an attorney for the health care provider. It is important to understand the role the attorney retained by the insurance company plays to evaluate whether a health care provider should seek the advice of independent or “personal” counsel. Semin Cutan Med Surg 32:230-233 © 2013 Frontline Medical Communications
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Dec
2013
Vol. 32. No. 4

Medicolegal Aspects of Prescribing Dermatological Medications in Pregnancy

Daniel C Butler, BS | Jenny E Murase, MD | Rishu Gupta, BS | Whitney A High, MD, JD, MEng
Medications are commonly used during pregnancy; in fact, female patients take an average of 2.9 medications during pregnancy. Due to this high prevalence, malpractice litigation poses a high legal risk to dermatologists who prescribe medications to female patients who are or may become pregnant. This article introduces the medicolegal risks involved in prescribing dermatological medications to a pregnant patient and discusses ways for a dermatologist to mitigate those risks. International safety classification systems are reviewed, and potential high risk dermatologic medications prescribed in acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and connective tissue disease are discussed. In addition, the article summarizes resources available to patients as well as the important elements for dermatologists to include when documenting their discussion with the patient in the medical record. Semin Cutan Med Surg 32:209-216 © 2013 Frontline Medical Communications
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Dec
2013
Vol. 32. No. 4

Patent Law for the Dermatologist

Dan Feng Mei, JD | Josephine Liu, PhD, JD
An exciting discovery in the laboratory may translate to a commercial product. How does the patent system fit into the picture? We first discuss the circumstances under which an invention is granted a patent. What is the purpose of a patent and what are the functions of the patent system? Who can apply for a patent? What makes an invention patentable? A patent does not automatically grant a right to make or sell a product. This is because multiple patents can cover a single pharmaceutical product. Understanding the patent landscape covering a product of interest is key to evaluating the risk of infringing another’s exclusivity rights. We use a hypothetical example relating to skin cancer to guide a discussion of patent law. Semin Cutan Med Surg 32:242-246 © 2013 Frontline Medical Communications
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Dec
2013
Vol. 32. No. 4

Tanning Bed Legislation and the Dermatologist

Alison C Sorkin, JD | Robert P Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH | Teresa A Foo, MD
Indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanning correlates with increased risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. Because of the limited scope of individual counseling by physicians and other health care providers, prevention efforts now encompass population-based interventions in the form of legislation to discourage and decrease access to indoor tanning facilities. Legislation increasingly restricts indoor UV tanning at the national, territory, state, or local level and draws attention to the complexities surrounding enforcement and infraction penalties. Further research needs to better define the effect of decreased indoor UV tanning access on skin cancer incidence. Semin Cutan Med Surg 32:217-223 © 2013 Frontline Medical Communications
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Dec
2013
Vol. 32. No. 4

Teledermatology, Teledermatopathology, Interstate Dermatopathology and the Law

Amanda Marsch, MD | Whitney A High, MD, JD, MEng
The expansion of telemedicine nationwide has resulted in many states adopting specific telemedicine regulations to avoid the issue of requiring a full medical license to practice telemedicine. How these laws and regulations relate to the practice of telepathology and teledermatology has not been well delineated. It is important to understand these regulations to avoid potential judicial penalties arising from non-compliance. This article aims to outline state-specific telemedicine regulations and penalties. Semin Cutan Med Surg 32:224-229 © 2013 Frontline Medical Communications
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