Obstetric and gynecologic malpractice claims in Saudi Arabia: Incidence and cause
| Autor: | Lateefa O. Al-Dakhil |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty Adolescent Specialty Saudi Arabia Medical malpractice Fetal Distress Pathology and Forensic Medicine Defensive medicine 03 medical and health sciences Shoulder dystocia Young Adult 0302 clinical medicine Obstetrics and gynaecology Pregnancy Malpractice medicine Fetal distress Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Brachial Plexus Neuropathies Urinary Tract Fetal Death health care economics and organizations Gynecology 030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine business.industry Incidence Liability Legal General Medicine Middle Aged medicine.disease Delivery Obstetric Obstetrics Family medicine Hypoxia-Ischemia Brain Maternal Death Maternal death Female business Law |
| Zdroj: | Journal of forensic and legal medicine. 40 |
| ISSN: | 1878-7487 |
| Popis: | Introduction The occurrence of a bad outcome, injury or death of a patient during treatment increases the chance of malpractice litigation, increases legal responsibility and leads to increased fees for malpractice insurance. Physicians practicing obstetrics and gynecology face among the highest risks of malpractice litigation, and such litigation has led to an increase in the practice of defensive medicine and has made this specialty less appealing. Previous clinical data from Saudi Arabia have shown that more malpractice litigation concerns claims in obstetrics and gynecology than claims in any other field of medicine. Objective To identify the main causes of obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) professional liability claims in Saudi Arabia to have a better understanding and management of risks. Methods All OBGYN claims opened in Saudi Arabia between 2008 and 2013 were analyzed to identify the most common causes of claims. The results of these claims and the times until a final judgment made were also analyzed. Results Out of a total of 463 malpractice claims that were closed during the study period, 114 (24.6%) claims were in obstetrics and gynecology, and 92 (80.7%) of these claims concerned complications related to delivery room events. The most common causes of obstetric malpractice litigation were shoulder dystocia (brachial plexus injury) and fetal distress (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy). Urinary system injury was the most common cause of gynecology cases. Most cases were decided in favor of the defendants with the exception of cases for which maternal and/or fetal death was the cause of litigation; nearly all of those cases were decided against the defendants. Conclusion Obstetricians face a high risk of malpractice claims in Saudi Arabia, although most claims do not end in payments to plaintiffs. However, the effects of such claims on obstetric care should not be underestimated. Adherence to standards of care and careful documentation may decrease litigation and the number of indefensible malpractice claims. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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