S3.E28 - Medical Malpractice Overview - Know the Risk with Dr. Luke Cicchinelli

This Episode is Brough to you by PICA

In this episode of GaitKeepers Journal Club, Dr. Jeff Dikis is joined by Dr. David Schweibish and Dr. Luke Cicchinelli for a practical, no-filter conversation about medical legal risk in podiatry. The discussion focuses on the cases and behaviors that most often lead to claims — from failure to diagnose, refer, or document, to unnecessary surgery, CRPS, DVT/PE, sepsis, nerve injury, and repeated unsuccessful procedures — and repeatedly returns to one central theme: clear documentation and good communication are the best forms of protection.

The conversation also breaks down how to build defensibility into everyday practice through risk-aware intake questions, functional limitation documentation, conservative treatment history, and contemporaneous follow-up notes. The guests emphasize that not every bad outcome is malpractice, but timely action, patient education, signed instruction sheets, co-management when needed, and a strong communication loop can make a major difference in both patient safety and legal protection. They also explore the broader malpractice landscape, including expert testimony, direct-to-consumer marketing, insurance pressure, and how practice location can affect risk and premiums.