News date: 28 March 2025
Alla Tsymanovska, Attorney at Law at Ilyashev & Partners Law Firm, delivered a speech at the medical conference for podologists entitled “Algorithm for Filing a Claim Against a Doctor or Other Healthcare Provider. How to Protect Yourself?”. The event was held in Kyiv on March 22, 2025 and was organised by the Association of Podologists of Ukraine.
In her speech, Alla Tsymanovska spoke about the key legal risks in the work of a podologist, in particular the concept of medical error, the difference between expected complication and professional negligence, and common grounds for complaints and claims initiated by clients.
Alla Tsymanovska provided conference participants with practical advice: what requirements for preparing the informed consent and recordkeeping allow to minimise liability, as well as how to act in the event of a complaint, a claim or a legal dispute.
Particular attention was paid to mediation as an alternative way to resolve conflicts in the field of Podology. Alla Tsymanovska emphasised the benefits of pre-trial dispute resolution and described typical mistakes in communication with clients in crisis situations, as well as podologist’s plan of actions in case of a complaint. The Attorney explained in detail the role of a lawyer at different stages of the conflict, i.e. from risk analysis to a defence strategy formulation and support during negotiations or litigation.
“Podologists work with people every day, and this makes their profession vulnerable to legal risks. My task as an attorney is to help the specialist not only respond to complaints but also prevent them through a well-drafted contract, proper documentation and confidence in actions within the scope of responsibility,” Alla Tsymanovska said.
The Association of Podologists of Ukraine is a professional organization of foot care specialists in Ukraine with over 200 members. The organization aims to include the title “Podologist” in the National Classifier of Occupations and standardize legislative approaches to the field.