Lessons Learned

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. Professionals get sued because an individual believes she has been harmed or thinks there is enough evidence to convince a jury that she has been harmed. An accusation of harm can be expressed in different legal terms, such as breach of contract or negligence. The profession of genetic counseling has developed within the field of medicine, so that a medical model usually applies. Therefore, a formal complaint by a patient about a genetic counselor would come under the laws that apply to medicine as opposed to business. Most commonly, these complaints take the form of a malpractice lawsuit that claims malpractice or negligence.

The purpose of this book is (1) to provide genetic counselors with varying levels of experience and expertise with heightened awareness of the sources and processes of the law as it can affect their practice; (2) to offer them strategies for minimizing the potential for their being named in a lawsuit; and (3) to provide guidance for the management of current and emerging situations. The book discusses the day-to-day practices of genetic counselors and identifies areas in which possible causes of liability can be found. It looks closely at a negligence lawsuit as it would concern a genetic counselor, so that readers may learn where the potholes hazards and how to avoid them.

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)

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.