Giving a deposition: some helpful tips for the occupational therapy practitioner.

Occupational therapy practitioners frequently are asked to testify at depositions. Some may be intimidated by the legal process and not know what to do when subpoenaed to appear at a deposition. This article describes the deposition process, explains how one should prepare for a deposition, and provides helpful suggestions on how to tackle the deposition itself.

An overview of professional liability in occupational therapy.

Occupational therapists occasionally are sued for professional malpractice; thus, they need to be aware of the law of malpractice, those areas of practice that present the greatest legal challenges, and strategies to reduce client injury and liability risks. This article provides an overview of the law of professional malpractice, explains the impact of various employment relationships on liability risks, reviews specific malpractice actions against occupational therapists, and provides suggestions on how to reduce the risk of injuring a client in therapy. By increasing one's awareness of the legalities of professional malpractice and implementing certain strategies, therapists can improve quality of care and reduce their exposure to malpractice liability.