Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURK PEDIATRI ARSIVI-TURKISH ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRICS, cilt.46, sa.2, ss.151-158, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Aim: The objectives of this study are to evaluate malpractice from forensic medicine perspective, studying lawsuits filed against healthcare professionals who performed medical interventions on cases aged between 0-18 years.
Material and Method: Medical malpractice claims filed against healthcare professionals (n=378) submitted to The Council of Forensic Medicine during the years 2002-2006 by the courts to form expert opinion, were evaluated by 3. Specialty Board were examined retrospectively. The cases were evaluated in regard to being complaint about which health workers, being engaged with a lawsuit of which health instutions, being complaint about which department of health institutions and the damages arising and fault finding processes which occur in medical malpractice cases.
Results: Among the healthcare institutions subjected to malpractice claims, state hospitals ranked first (52.7%) followed by private hospitals (16.4%). Pediatricians took the lead among healthcare professionals accused of malpractice followed by practicians. 219 cases of malpractice (57.9%) ensued in death. Opinions in favour of or against medical malpractice were expressed in 28.8% (n=109), and 51.6% (n=195) of the cases, respectively.
Conclusions: Because of increasing medical malpractices by age group (0-18) in our country, the group of health professionals, especially pediatricians and practitioners should be more careful and attentive of the diagnosis, treatment and care. Moreoever, the patient, his/her relatives, and intimates should be provided with detailed information about the complications, and adverse effects of the recommended treatment using eligible words. (Turk Arch Ped 2011; 46: 151-8)