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.