This column, "Law & Medicine," regularly appears in Internal Medicine News, an Elsevier publication. Dr. Tan is former professor of medicine and adjunct professor of law at the University of Hawaii. This article is meant to be educational and does not constitute medical, ethical, or legal advice. It is adapted from the author’s book, "Medical Malpractice: Understanding the Law, Managing the Risk" (2006). For additional information, readers may contact the author.