[Patients' experiences after complaining about health care]. / Pasienterfaringer etter klager på helsevesenet.

"Norsk Pasientforening" (The Norwegian Patients' Association) is an independent organization which, since 1983, has advised patients wishing to complain about medical treatment. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of patients who had been in contact with the organization to find out how they felt their complaint had been handled, and how they wished to channel complaints in future. Patients would like to have a review board in their own locality, and think that the complaint should be examined by a lawyer and a physician. This review board should be capable of taking decisions and awarding compensation. The complaints would also like to have a spokesman to argue for their legal rights.

[Deaths caused by antidepressive agents and neuroleptics. Risk groups illustrated by a forensic material]. / Dødsfall forårsaket av antidepressiva og neuroleptika. Risikogrupper belyst ved et rettsmedisinsk materiale.

At the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, legal autopsy was performed on 153 persons who died from poisoning by neuroleptics and/or antidepressants from 1986 to 1989. In one third of the cases, only neuroleptics were found at autopsy, and in little less than half of these cases the post mortem blood concentrations were considered rather low in relation to the fatal outcome. A larger proportion of alcohol abusers were found in the group with low post mortem concentrations of neuroleptics than in the rest of the material. This group contained mainly men and was further characterized by a high proportion of unintentional deaths. In the light of these facts the authors speculate whether neuroleptics represent increased risk of sudden death among alcohol abusers. The deaths due to an overdose of antidepressants were mostly suicides, and involved high post mortem blood concentrations of the drugs.

[Complaints to the Norwegian Patients' Society. Who complained, why and with what result?]. / Klagesaker til Norsk Pasientforening. Hvem klaget, hvorfor, og hva skjedde?

Norsk Pasientforening (The Norwegian Patients' Association) is an independent organization which receives complaints on unsatisfactory medical treatment. During a period of 13 months, 176 complaints were handled, most of which were very serious. The complaints were directed at all counties, but to a very varying degree. The organization has a consulting committee, consisting of a doctor, a lawyer and a patient representative. This committee handled 79 of the complaints which were regarded as especially complex. The medical advisor agreed fully or partially with 57% of the patients, but only 15% were advised to sue. Another 15% could apply for economic compensation from the government. 22% of the complaints referred to primary health care, and 72% to institutional health care. Half of the complaints referred to the primary treatment, or lack of treatment, of a disease. The other half referred to circumstances or complications which arose during or after treatment.