"Patient-centered computing may improve physician-patient communications, thereby reducing liability risk."

"Efforts toward patient education have gained momentum as medical liability issues have increased. Studies have suggested that patients sometimes give "informed" consent to procedures without having an adequate understanding of them and documenting communication with the patient has therefore become a necessity."

"...the electronic record not only documents that the information was presented but also evidences the level of the patient's comprehension. This is powerful protection against a later claim that the patient was not adequately informed, which presents a significant concern because patients generally have imperfect recall of their informed consent discussions with physicians. Protection like this could help a doctor win an informed consent suit if one were brought. More important it could deter the filing of such suits. Or, to put a more positive and less defensive face on things, such suits are less of a problem because patients are better informed and, thus, have no reason to sue."

"Studies show the seed of a malpractice claim is planted when patient expectations are not met... A patient with a greater level of understanding is not as angry or surprised when an unfortunate complication occurs."