AUTOPSY REVEALS THE CAUSE OF LITIGATION – A NEGLIGENCE-BASED STUDY.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Forensic medicine & toxicology, Assistant Professor, Government Medical College, Baramati, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, Maharashtra, India-413133

2 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, R.C.S.M. Government Medical College & CPR Hospital, Kolhapur

3 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Government Medical College Aurangabad, Maharashtra

4 Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, BJ Government Medical College –Pune

Abstract

Background: Today the number of cases of allegations of negligence is increasing and already it has become a great problem, especially for surgeons, anesthetists, obstetricians and gynecologists.
Objectives: The present study is an attempt to discover through autopsy what are the basic drawbacks in the service of healthcare which leads to allegations against medical practitioners.
Methodology: The study included 72 cases with an allegation of medical negligence cases reported for expert opinion to the tertiary care center.
Results: The present study revealed that the surgical, allied & related cases (48) faced more allegations than the medicinal, allied & related cases(21). Autopsies were conducted further in 24 cases out of the 32 surgical deaths which were more as compared to medicinal deaths undergone autopsies (10 out of 16).
Conclusions: Of the 72 cases studied, there is a preponderance of allegations related to negligence in the surgery performed (23.61%), which was followed by allegations related to failure to diagnose/ wrong treatment (20.83%).

Keywords

The Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences and Applied Toxicology
Volume 23, Issue 3
September 2023
Pages 39-44

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