ABSTRACT
Whether it is labeled as improper, unskilled, careless, or negligent care, malpractice is the failure to use ordinary caution to avoid harming the patient. Physicians fail their legal duty when they expose patients to an unreasonable increase in risk or harm instead of using a safer available alternative. The importance of the physical examination in a medical malpractice case should not be underestimated. The complaint-directed physical examination is critical in establishing an accurate diagnosis and paving the toward early and effective treatment. The examination should indicate how serious the problem is and how quickly the doctor must act. Presenting symptoms and signs may suggest several logical diagnostic possibilities because a number of different processes may account for a patient’s condition. This is the primary reason for performing a differential diagnosis. A medical diagnosis must be timely, accurate, and reliable. A timely and accurate diagnosis is the best path to early treatment or cure.
