Overview of the spine medicolegal environment in the United States

Abstract

Spine surgeons face significant medicolegal risks over the course of their careers. Malpractice law is fragmented with an extensive variety of regulations depending on the individual state. The political environment in the United States is unlikely to address tort reform in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is incumbent on spine surgeons to be familiar with the medicolegal framework and the strategies to mitigate risk. Additionally, with the growing use of enabling technology including navigation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, many questions remain about the impact of these systems on patient care and the responsible parties when the machines become more autonomous.