Lessons Learned - by Susan Schmerler (Hardcover)

About the Book

The purpose of this book is to provide genetic counselors with varying levels of experience and expertise. It is the first book to specifically address genetic counseling, as opposed to general healthcare risk management.

Book Synopsis

No one wants to be sued. A lawsuit is an assault on one's self-image, reputation, and livelihood. It is physically, mentally, and financially draining. The purpose of this book is to provide genetic counselors with varying levels of experience and expertise. It offers them strategies for minimizing the potential for being named in a lawsuit, and provides guidance for the management of current and emerging situations. This is the first book specifically addressing genetic counseling, as opposed to general healthcare risk management. The author has training and experience in both genetic counseling and law, serving as an expert witness in a malpractice case brought against a genetic counselor. The book includes summaries for convenient reference, important court cases, and an appendix of relevant documents.

From the Back Cover

Lessons Learned

Risk Management Issues in Genetic Counseling

Susan Schmerler, Children's Hospital of St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson,

New Jersey

Malpractice suits are filed every day. Even the most experienced practitioners are not immune to potentially career-ending malpractice charges. With so much at stake, how do you avoid lawsuits and protect yourself against legal action? Susan Schmerler, a lawyer and expert witness, as well as a respected genetic counselor for more than 30 years, will help you survive and thrive in today's litigious society.

The only book devoted exclusively to this specialty, Lessons Learned details the risk management issues involved in genetic counseling practice, and offers solid strategies for minimizing the risk of costly, career-damaging malpractice suits. Schmerler clearly identifies areas of practitioner liability and demonstrates how they may be averted, so counselors can better manage their practice while lowering the risk of legal action. Examples drawn from relevant court cases illustrate typical issues in malpractice, negligence, and breach of contract suits. With this in-depth knowledge, readers can refine their goals toward increased self-protection as well as client care.

Included in the coverage:

• Sources of liability in genetic counseling practice.
• Case examples involving wrongful birth/life, confidentiality, billing, supervision issues.
• Anatomy of a malpractice suit--obligations, duties, standards, defense.
• Proper documentation.
• Guidelines for professional response to lawsuits.
• Plus helpful summaries, charts, tables, graphics, and online research ideas.

This is must reading for genetic counselors and trainees. But the lessons of Lessons Learnedextend far beyond the field, making the book a significant resource for health care risk managers and administrators, attorneys, marriage and family counselors, and other professionals in psychology and public health.

Review Quotes

From the reviews:

"Schmerler, a genetic counselor with a law degree in risk management, has written a clear, thorough guide to the bracing reality of legal issues for genetic counselors. Sources of liability are broken down into the different types of legal complaints, legal initiatives, private practice issues, technology, research, and trainees. ... Appendices round out the volume with definitions of genetic counseling from 1975 and 2006, scope of practice, the code of ethics, a bibliography, and glossary." (www.booknews.com, April, 2008)

"Susan Schmerler has developed an invaluable resource for genetic counselors at all levels of experience. ... The book is well referenced and is written in a very clear, understandable language, with minimal use of "legalese" ... [and] is a must read for genetic counselors and genetic counseling students." (Nancy Callanan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, MS Genetic Counseling Program, J Genet Counsel. 2008)

About the Author

Susan Schmerler is a genetic counselor and supervisor in the Section of Genetics at the Children's Hospital of St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, New Jersey. Her academic post is as Associate in Pediatrics at the University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School. She is on the Board of Directors of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, where she serves as Chair of the Education Committee. From 1999 through 2003, she was the Chair of the Credentials Committee of the American board of Genetic Counseling.