Affiliation:
1. Department of Molecular Medicine, Legal Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
2. Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Legal Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
Abstract
Introduction:
In recent decades, the number of medical professional liability disputes has
grown exponentially, becoming a well-studied aspect of public healthcare. Legal medicine is an essential
tool in managing this phenomenon.
Methods:
This article reports the results of the analysis of disputes for medical professional liability
in a Level III University Hospital in Italy. The study covers the time period from 01.01.2003 to
31.12.2019.
Results:
About 33% of claims have been compensated. Those claims fall within the following categories:
37% in the surgical field, 17% in the field of internal medicine, and 35% in the emergency care
field. As for the types of a medical mistake, compensation was awarded in 30% of diagnostic error
cases, 26% of therapeutic error cases, 47% of execution error cases, and 55% of organizational deficiency
cases.
Discussion:
The difference in the rate of compensation between the various medical fields or types of
error depends on specific medico-legal characteristics. The aim of advanced healthcare systems is to
prevent medical liability disputes by analyzing this phenomenon and improving clinical risk management
programs. In particular, according to our study, events related to organizational deficiencies are
the most preventable. In addition, through the use of a dedicated reporting procedure, medico-legal
analysis of malpractice cases may be the key to risk reduction.
Conclusion:
Every major hospital should set up a medico-legal watchdog responsible for collecting
and analyzing information on professional medical liability disputes in order to prevent and manage
such events.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Pharmaceutical Science,Biotechnology
Cited by
7 articles.
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