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Abstract
Background: At our institution, training in medicolegal issues was not formally taught. In light of increasing medicolegal risk in pediatrics, a formal curriculum was urged.
Purposes: Before developing a curriculum, identification of strengths and weaknesses in medicolegal knowledge among faculty and residents was required.
Methods: A survey was developed and administered to pediatric faculty (n = 79) and residents (n = 20). Survey answers were hand tabulated and scores for selected questions were compared using Fisher's exact test.
Results: Residents (67%) were more likely to have had medicolegal coursework than faculty (26%). Faculty and residents had similar scores (80.6% and 83.7%, respectively). Faculty were more familiar with the Good Samaritan rule and informed consent. Residents were more likely to correctly define malpractice and the Texas statute of limitations. Both groups had deficiencies in the use of diagnostic studies alone to prevent malpractice and in identifying confidentiality issues.
Conclusions: Faculty and residents have areas of deficient knowledge for medicolegal issues, therefore, formal medicolegal education is recommended.