News & Knowledge Practice ManagementJune 23, 2017April 6, 2023 Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules Doctors, Not Staff, Must Obtain Informed Consent By: Curi Editorial Team < 1 Minute Read In a move with significant implications for legal liability exposures for physicians and medical practices, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled on June 20 that physicians cannot delegate the responsibility to obtain informed consent from patients before a medical procedure. This means that informed consent obtained by staff members does not meet the state’s informed consent requirement under the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) law. According to the majority opinion in the case, “Informed consent requires direct communication between physician and patient, and contemplates a back-and-forth, face-to-face exchange, which might include questions that the patient feels the physician must answer personally before the patient feels informed and becomes willing to consent. The duty to obtain the patient’s informed consent belongs solely to the physician.” All Pennsylvania physicians and practices should take note of this ruling and, if needed, change their internal processes relating to informed consent to reflect its guidance. Curi Editorial Team READ NEXT August 30, 2023August 30, 2023Human Resources | Practice Management Webinar: Ask the Experts: Exploring HR Solutions for Today’s Practice In August 2023, Curi Advisory hosted a webinar panel titled, “Ask the Experts: Exploring HR Solutions for Today’s Practice.” From recruiting and training, to staffing shortages… Read more July 12, 2023October 26, 2023Curi Advisory | Practice Management CASE STUDY: How Curi Advisory’s Arrowlytics Platform Enhanced One Practice’s Digital Presence Click to Download Read more February 24, 2023April 6, 2023Curi Advisory | Practice Management | Well-Being A Case of Burnout: Risk Management Recommendations for Physicians The Case: A 58-year-old solo practitioner struggled to keep his practice afloat following the fallout of COVID-19 pandemic. The stress of overseeing daily operations and managing… Read more