Service learning in health care higher education: risk or not to risk.

The explosion of service learning as a teaching methodology in higher education has generated increased awareness of the potential for liability related to student experiences with service partnerships all over the world. At present, there are few instances of legal problems occurring using service learning with students, but risk management not risk avoidance may be the best form of preventing legal problems from occurring. Reviewing areas of potential liability with the service partner, the student, faculty and college institution for possible risks may reduce future problems. Strategies for dealing with potential identified risks are discussed in this article including identified agency risks, the capacities of the students, employment status, liability insurance, and agency incorporation. Reducing the risk with students includes evaluating the harm to and by students, assessing the student population, prerequisite courses, assumptions, developmental age of the student, good communication and use of an honor Code. The higher education institutions and faculty may reduce risk by instituting student contracts, maintaining student privacy, and using waivers. Good risk management through preparation of all involved in service learning projects is the key to success.