Ready or not, here it comes: the legal, ethical, and clinical implications of E-mail communications.

Electronic mail (E-mail) has the potential to enhance the professional relationship both between physician and patient, and among physicians of the same and different specialties. Despite this promise, E-mail communication in the medical environment raises important questions of legal, ethical, and professional propriety. This article discusses the potential uses of E-mail in medical practice, identifies its benefits, and analyzes the hazards that may be associated with this new and powerful technology. In doing so, the authors hope to foster an approach to E-mail use that takes advantage of its strengths while developing policies and practices that mitigate its weaknesses.