Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2021
Traditionally the great majority of health care related malpractice suits have involved physicians and hospitals. Increasingly, however, greater attention is being given to nurses as potential defendants and thus as sources for recovery in malpractice suits. As a result, more recognition is emerging for nursing as a profession accountable for its practice. This article will examine the concept of accountability by:
1. reviewing selected legal principles of malpractice;
2. discussing the trend toward increased inclusion of nurses in malpractice actions and the implications of this trend; and
3. describing an Expert Nurse Witness and Consultation Service which was developed to provide nursing opinion on the professionally accepted standard of nursing practice.