The Legal Aspects of Syncope

Syncope in the acute setting is usually addressed for the first time at the emergency department. The initial evaluation results in either a certain or highly likely diagnosis and an estimated prognosis. A risk stratification should be performed upon the initial evaluation. Dealing with the legal aspects of syncope with respect to driving and working is about predicting the risk, defined as the likelihood of recurrence of syncope and the likelihood of harm by syncope. Most regulations concerning returning to work and driving are too strict. Physicians assessing a syncope patient should consider whether the patient is fit to drive or can resume work. Although it is rarely fatal, syncope does cause injury, and for this, the risk needs to be both estimated and reduced. This chapter reviews the legal consequences of syncope. In general, the focus is estimating the prediction of risk, defined as the likelihood of recurrence of syncope and the likelihood of harm by syncope.