The Journal of legal medicine
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A recent study by the Legal Services Corporation reported that 71% of low-income U. S. households experienced at least one civil legal problem in 2017 and that 86% of these needs went unresolved. ⋯ Our data suggest that MLPs can (1) identify legal needs and create awareness of legal rights among individuals who would not have sought legal services; (2) create an access point for legal services; (3) improve access to legal advice and brief intervention; (4) support ongoing relationships between patients and lawyers that allow for the timely identification of subsequent legal needs; (5) foster trust and confidence in the legal system; and (6) address affordability concerns. These findings suggest that by improving access to justice, MLPs can address critical social and legal determinants of health and, ultimately, advance health equity.
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Medical photographs have been used for decades to document clinical findings. The ease with which medical photographs can be captured and integrated into the electronic health record (EHR) has increased as digital cameras obviated the need for the film development process. ⋯ Namely, (1) what are the requirements for consent when taking medical photographs, and how may photographs be used after consent is obtained, (2) are medical photographs admissible as evidence in court, and (3) how should a provider respond to a request by a patient or parent requesting that a photograph be deleted from the medical record? Herein, we review relevant laws and legal cases in the context of accepted standards of medical practice pertaining to point-of-care medical photography. This review is intended to aid health care providers and institutions seeking to develop or revise policies regarding using a mobile application at their clinical practice.