In brief: Cardiac rehabilitation as a distinct c health care service is of fairly recent origin, and existing programs are rather broad and nonstandardized. Consequently, the malpractice crisis that has engulfed the medical profession may well affect professionals who practice cardiac rehabilitation. Various legal issues and concerns face cardiac rehabilitation programs, as they do any other health care provider group. The adoption of written program policies and procedures, set in accordance with national standards of practice, can address the legal and practical problems. Obtaining effective informed consent from patients and using various risk management techniques can also assist in the operation of safe and legally defensible cardiac rehabilitation programs.