In his clinical experience, dermatologists can protect themselves from a legal standpoint by maintaining honesty with the patient; showing kindness and concern at each encounter; validating the patient’s complaints about complications without conveying blame; avoiding isolating the patient after a complication; having a remedy planned for the complication, and seeing and communicating with the patient frequently.
When things go wrong, he offered the “AAA” mnemonic: Always acknowledge a complaint and express empathy; make sure someone you designate is easily accessible to the patient making a complaint, and avoid premature conclusions or comments. “Why? Because you want to maintain honesty with your patients, you want to show kindness and concern and validate patients’ emotions,” Dr. Torres said. “In other words, treat them as you would like to be treated.”
He reported having no financial disclosures.