Determination of Attitudes and Knowledge Levels of Pediatricians About Pediatric Medicolegal Problems in Turkey

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In recent years, there has been an increase in allegations of medical errors, particularly related to issues of consent. The role of legal representatives in making decisions about children's medical treatment has resulted in various legal and ethical dilemmas. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and awareness of pediatricians on medicolegal issues. Methods The study was conducted prospectively and cross-sectionally. Participants were presented with 14 case examples and were asked 25 questions about their knowledge of the necessary information, consent, documents, and procedures required in each case. They were asked to score their adequacy on a scale of 1 to 5 points. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests were used statistically. Results A total of 209 pediatricians participated in the study, 66% of which are working in tertiary care hospitals. The results indicated pediatricians were unsure about their knowledge of necessary information, consent, documents, and procedures for children, with an average score of 3.19 out of 5. They also felt inadequate when faced with treatment refusal, with an average score of 2.77 out of 5. No significant differences were found in the results based on professional seniority or job title. Furthermore, only 2% of the pediatricians believed that children under 12 years old could understand their medical treatment options. Conclusion The study highlights that pediatricians need more knowledge on basic legal issues related to information, consent, and refusal of treatment. Legal education should be included in medical schools' curricula to prevent lawsuits and improve patient care, and pediatricians should receive legal training to enhance their knowledge of medicolegal issues.