NYMC SOM and Touro Law Center Collaborate
The first interdisciplinary course between the NYMC School of Medicine (SOM) and the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, commonly known as Touro Law Center, was a success.
The verdict is in. The first interdisciplinary course between the NYMC School of Medicine (SOM) and the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, commonly known as Touro Law Center, was a success. The course, “Practice Skills in Medical Professional Liability Defense,” for medical and law students, introduced medical malpractice concepts and issues related to medical malpractice trials and examined aspects of medical malpractice law, expert testimony, patient safety, quality regulation, as well as professional expectations and standards of care as they relate to the medical profession from a legal as well as ethical perspective. The course culminated in a medical malpractice mock trial that was held at NYMC in April.
The simulated action was a medical malpractice case in New York State involving the alleged negligent administration of two drugs by the defendant doctor. The plaintiff alleged that he developed a cardiac arthymia, which progressed into an AV heart block because of the defendant physician’s negligent administration of Lipitor and the combination of Lipitor and Azithromycin. The physician denied any negligence and claimed that the concurrent administration of Lipitor and Azithromycin was not a departure from the standards of medical diagnosis and treatment. Law students acted as counsel for parties and medical students acted as the expert medical witnesses.
“It was a great opportunity to get to know some of the law students and hear about their perspectives. Participating in a mock malpractice trial was the perfect ending to the course and our class sessions prepared us for it well,” said Samuel Dresner, M.D. ’17, who participated in the course.
