Medico legal aspects of epilepsy treatment:: medical errors

Patients have the right to receive an adequate diagnosis, full information, and treatment according to the accepted rules of medicine. Errors in treatment, negligence and inadequate patient information may occur in the management of epilepsy. In order to avoid civil liability lowsuits for errors in treatment, patient information needs to address to the individual circumstances of the patient, documentation of the treatment has to be adequate, and treatment must be careful and follow the accepted rules of medicine. If the accepted rules of medicine are not followed intentionally in an individual case, this must be justified and fully documented. Patients have to be told about off-label use of medication. Patients need to be informed if they are not legally allowed to drive a car because of medication or increased risk of further seizures. Patients in remission need to be informed that in individual cases breakthrough seizures may occur following generic substitution, and that discontinuation of medication has special risks. If errors in medical treatment are suspected, an out of court settlement procedure is available through special mediation committees.