Stroke and the Law

3141 It is difficult to assess whether stroke neurology is disproportionately affected by the often adversarial relations between physicians and attorneys. Nevertheless, expansion of therapeutic options for patients with stroke has created increased potential for litigation. To address this issue rationally and productively, the stroke clinician must understand some fundamental principles of legal medicine. Knowledge of these principles will allow for their practical application to clinical settings and issues. The purpose of this article is to describe some key fundamentals of legal medicine as applied to stroke neurology in the United States. Hypothetical cases are presented, allowing for application of theory to practice. In addition, selected topics in stroke neurology will be reviewed.