Public Health Law Map - Beta 5 - Medical and Public Health Law Site

filing of all official documents. In
the United States (outside of
Louisiana) a notary, or notary public,
is a public officer, usually bonded,
who may attest to the signing of
legal documents. In most states the
notary must affix a seal or stamp to
the document and must keep a record
book of all witnessed documents.
Since the notary only attests that he
or she saw the document signed, not
the content of the document,
notarization adds little but pomp to a
legal document.
Notice Knowledge of the existence of a fact
by a party such that they can be held
accountable for any ramifications
resulting from the receipt of that
knowledge. Notice may be either
actual or constructive. If a hospital
administrator knows that a physician
has a drinking problem, the hospital
has actual notice that the physician is
impaired even if the medical staff
committee never disciplines the
physician. The hospital will then be
liable for negligent continuation of
medical staff privileges. If the
National Practitioner Data Bank of
the Department of Health and Human
Services contains the information
that the physician is an alcoholic, the
hospital is charged with knowledge
of this information even if it never
checks the database. This is
constructive notice.
Nuncupative Will Oral statement intended as a last will
made in anticipation of death.
OIG The Office of the Inspector General.
While most federal agencies have an
OIG, in health care this usually
refers to the OIG of the Department
of Health and Human Services.
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