The SGNA members identified many concerns regarding malpractice, negligence and liability during the Roundtable Discussion, “When You Think the M.D. Is Wrong...”, and in the 1988 SGA Legal Issues Survey. These concerns included: communication, documentation, patient and staff abuse, abandonment, personal liability and informed consent, to name a few. This article is the first in a series that will address those concerns. Many of the situations described by the members during the Roundtable Discussion and in the Survey centered around deficiencies in communication which led to conflict. This article discusses communication as your first line of defense to prevent conflict, and ultimately, a law suit. Resolution of disagreements or conflict can occur simply and professionally, in most instances, with everyone winning. In addition, a discussion relating to communication as a conflict management technique, which may ultimately result in the desired outcome, is also presented.