Commentary: Malpractice in heart transplantation

Abstract

The field of heart transplantation is complex and carries substantial risk of medical malpractice. It is essential for heart transplant surgeons to understand litigation trends to minimize risk and continue to optimize patient care. Below we provide commentary on a recent article from the Journal of Cardiac Surgery discussing this topic. The risk of medical malpractice in heart transplantation may be decreased with seamless communication between provider teams, minimizing operative errors, thorough informed consent, and improved provider emotional intelligence.