A malpractice lawsuit can wreak havoc on a healthcare professional's family, career and emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The effects can be devastating. CMDA’s Medical Malpractice Ministry is available to intervene with prayer, educational resources and encouragement from a commission of doctors who have faced malpractice suits themselves.
Dear colleague and friend in Christ,
The fact you are looking at the Medical Malpractice Ministry website likely indicates you’re reaching out for moral support. You may be bewildered, angry, depressed, but as so often is said to humans in the Bible: “Fear not!” You have colleagues in Christian Medical & Dental Associations who understand your feelings, for we too have been through the valley of the shadow of death. Even more important to remember at this point in your life is: THE Great Physician conquered death. You will live through this bleak episode.
We as physicians seek evidence-based information. What you will find in this area of the web will instruct you on many of the legal processes you might undergo. Please do not take this information as legal gospel; you should work with your own attorney for legal advice. Follow your habits as a prudent physician treating a disease with which you are unfamiliar or a bit hazy: study as much information as you can find, analyze it, look for possible plans of diagnoses and treatments and seek advice from experienced physicians who have encountered such a disease.
You are not alone in your medico-legal ordeal. A majority of physicians are sued at least once in their professional careers. You may take care of your patient using the latest evidence and protocols, practicing at a board-certified level of competence, but something bad happened. Maybe you could have changed something, but that time is in the past. The present and future are more important: forgive (the patient and yourself), never forget and try another treatment option. Do not be too harsh with yourself. Most of your patients still trust you as their “doc.”
Should you wish to talk confidentially with someone who has traversed the same path as you appear to be traveling, please contact the Medical Malpractice Ministry. We wish to serve our Lord by helping you in whatever way we can. We can listen, encourage and occasionally remind you that you’re human—just like your patients and other physicians. You are not alone. We’ll pray with you to our awesome God, omniscient, omnipresent and ever-compassionate who sent His very own Son for us!
Someday, when you are back to walking in that bright Sonshine and the memories of the dark valley have faded, I hope you remember to help CMDA so we are able to help other hurting colleagues.
Peace be to you through Christ Jesus,
Wendy B. Kang, MD, JD
Chair, CMDA Medical Malpractice Ministry
Contact:
We would love to be in personal contact with you. Malpractice can isolate you from colleagues, friends and even family, but you can choose to mitigate that by calling the Malpractice Liaison and requesting contact with a colleague who has already been through malpractice. The purpose of the call is not to discuss your case (CMDA does not give legal advice), but to give you emotional and spiritual support. The Malpractice Commission members (your colleagues) will keep your conversations strictly confidential. They participate to lend a sympathetic ear and to encourage and pray with you.
Specific Resources
Our audio, visual and/or print resources are specifically designed to offer you support as you go through a malpractice lawsuit. These are only just a small selection of the resources available through CMDA, so please visit www.cmda.org/resources for more information.
Malpractice Articles
Articles originally published in CMDA's Today's Christian Doctor are designed to offer information to help as you face a malpractice lawsuit.
Morality in Malpractice
Opinion Letter
Is the Law to Blame?
Physicians Can Heal the Hurt
