Medical Errors in Health Care Institutions: an Interdisciplinary Study of the Competences of Specialists Based on Medical and Pharmaceutical Law

Abstract

In global medical practice, physicians have faced criminal charges such as manslaughter, reckless endangerment, or negligent homicide following fatalities of patients. A comprehensive and interdisciplinary study was carried out, involving forensic and pharmaceutical, medical and immunological, as well as criminal and legal expertise. This study focused on the competencies of healthcare facility professionals, guided by medical and pharmaceutical law within the legal framework of interactions between doctors, patients, pharmacists, and lawyers. It specifically addressed medical mistakes made in the field of gynecology. The research encompassed an analysis of how leading countries worldwide handle medical errors. It categorized common medical missteps, including hazardous surgical methods, infections from medical care, diagnostic inaccuracies, and risky blood transfusions. The forensic and pharmaceutical practices related to gynecological medical errors were scrutinized. Furthermore, the study led to the proposition of normative initiatives for amendments and additions to Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, aiming to address these issues more effectively.