Osteopath's Guide to Keeping Out of Trouble

• Introduction. Risk management. The duties of an osteopath. Professional indemnity requirements. Handling complaints. The General Osteopathic Council. Competence and continuing professional development. Clinical negligence. Examining and treating a patient. Dealing with difficult patients. Consent. Confidentiality. Patient records and the law. Osteopathic records. Personal relationships with patients. Whistle blowing. Chaperones. Domiciliary visiting. Managing patient expectations. Getting to grips with communication. Information technology and risk management. Reviewing the practice. Health and safety. Health and safety: disability. Employment issues and risk. Risk and the media. Conclusion.

"We work in a litigious environment where adverse outcomes are viewed seriously. Osteopaths must be sure that they take careful histories, examine according to best practice, explain in sufficient detail the problem to be able to obtain valid consent, treat the patient with care and write notes that are sufficiently full and legible to ensure that the osteopath has a defence if a patient tries to take him (or her) to court. The advent of risk management has hopefully started to reduce the risk of anything going wrong during clinical work and this book is an attempt to identify those areas where relatively simple changes may keep you safe and where a bit of knowledge of the law and some simple ethical principles may support you in difficult times." Paul Lambden"