If you are a Controlled Risk Insurance Company (CRICO)-insured and receive notification of either a claim or lawsuit alleging medical malpractice, these initial steps will help you to avoid further complications:

• Contact your institutional risk management representative; or call RMF at 617.495.5100, or toll free 877.RMFCRICO (1.877.763.2742);
• avoid discussing the incident or patient with staff, colleagues, or the patient's other physicians;
• do not contact the patient or his/her family; and
• do not review or change the medical record.

While the last three items may seem counterintuitive, named defendant clinicians can seriously complicate the defense of (even a non-meritorious) claim by attempting to investigate it themselves. During the discovery phase, the plaintiff's attorney will specifically inquire about such actions.