Abstract
Background: The results of the study on the evaluation of accusations of medical malpractice in fatal cases in the faculty of legal medicine, which were presented in 2005 and carried out on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security (MHSS), were the first comprehensive collection of data on this topic. Methods: Based on the study design, data were collected from two institutes of forensic medicine in Bonn and Düsseldorf concerning the years 2001 to 2006. Results: The increase in the number of autopsies due to suspected fatal medical malpractice revealed by the multicentre study has continued and can be attributed to an altered attitude of physicians. The number of charges has increased independent of the number of confirmed cases. The distribution of accusations between physicians in in-patient and out-patient practices, as well as between individual medical disciplines, shows constant prioritization. Expert opinion gives more responsibility to nursing staff as well as to ambulance officers. The grouping of accusations is analogue to the results of the original study for the MHSS. Conclusions: Physicians show an altered attitude in dealing with accusations of medical malpractice. The grouping of medical malpractice charges developed in the study could be reproduced and can be used as a basis for further classification.
Translated title of the contribution | Accusations of medical malpractice in fatal cases: Additional study using the data from two institutes of legal medicine |
---|---|
Original language | German |
Journal | Rechtsmedizin |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 90-94 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 0937-9819 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 04.2009 |