Minimizing the legal risk with ‘curbside’ consultation

“Curbside consultations” — in which a physician obtains insights on a medical case from another physician who has not seen the patient or reviewed the record — can yield advantages to the requesting physician. However, shortcomings are inherent in this common type of exchange and pose legal risk to the curbside consultant. This article provides background and practical tips that might help avoid being caught up in a lawsuit by surprise, or if named as a party, avoid being held culpable when the only involvement was a brief conversation with a colleague.