How to protect yourself against suits
Avoiding liability associated with long COVID involves the traditional legal guidance physicians are used to hearing, but with an added factor, Mr. Kolbert said.
There always needs to be communication with patients regarding the disease process, but in this area, there needs to be strong communication as to whether patients have had COVID in the past and what symptoms they are experiencing, he said. Physicians should ensure that patients know that long COVID may present in a variety of ways and that there is no definitive test for long COVID.
Physicians should document when the patient has been instructed to follow up and should take necessary steps to ensure the patient returns for follow-up care, he added.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is making sure not to assume a condition or symptom is the result of long COVID, he said. Care should be taken not to diagnose long COVID without excluding traditional causes.
“Ensure that patients know that COVID is not over, per se, and that science supports vaccination,” Mr. Kolbert said. “The best defense here is a strong communicative offense, engaging with the patient and thoughtfully charting about this.”
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.