Legal mechanisms and procedures in alleged medical negligence: A review of Indian laws and judgments.

Medical malpractice suits are quite common in developed countries leading to an increase in malpractice insurance. Recent trends indicate that India is at the cusp of a medical malpractice crisis. There has been a rise in medical negligence cases filed against doctors, though often the allegations are frivolous. In such cases, doctors can be considered as the second victim of medical negligence. Members of the medical fraternity do not learn much about law during their training and are often naïve regarding various options available to counter such cases as well as relevant legal doctrines. Doctors thus not only need to remain updated on medical knowledge and skills but also obtain knowledge of legal paradigms. We aim to raise awareness among doctors about handling negligence cases in various forums and share insights through relevant literature, court judgments and government orders. We also map the process of handling complaints, procedures followed in various courts and the different levels of remedies available for doctors.

A Risk Is Not a Harm: Abortion Exceptions in State Laws.

This letter responds to the article "Beneath the Sword of Damocles: Moral Obligations of Physicians in a Post-Dobbs Landscape," by Anne Drapkin Lyerly, Ruth R. Faden, and Michelle M. Mello, in the May-June 2024 issue of the Hastings Center Report.

[Disciplinary responsibility of medical workers in medical organizations].

Bringing to disciplinary responsibility of medical workers in the context of reforming the system of personnel training for the medical field, the introduction of digital technologies into the daily activities of a doctor, acquires pronounced specific features. The purpose of the study is to review the current labor legislation regulating labor discipline and identify the grounds for bringing medical workers to disciplinary responsibility in medical organizations.

[Impact of legal documentation requirements on physician practice using a regional specialty hospital as an example: an inventory]. / Der Einfluss gesetzlicher Dokumentationsanforderungen auf die ärztliche Praxis am Beispiel eines regionalen Schwerpunktkrankenhauses: eine Bestandsaufnahme.

BACKGROUND: Doctors in German hospitals are critical of their working conditions. They complain about long working hours, inadequate remuneration for their work, poor training and development opportunities, and increasing time spent on administrative tasks. As these points of criticism are largely based on subjective perception, in the present study we documented in detail the workflows of physicians in a major regional hospital, determined the time taken for the workflows, and performed a statistical evaluation of the data. METHODS: Nine doctors from the specialties of internal medicine, surgery, and anesthesia/intensive care medicine were observed during their shifts for a total period of 216 hours at an urban hospital in Germany. All of the tasks performed by the doctors were recorded in an observation protocol. RESULTS: The time spent daily on documentation by doctors of all specialties was on average 93.1 ±â€Š23.4 minutes, accounting for 19.4 % of a doctor's working hours. The specialists who spent the longest period of time on documentation were internists (120.2 ±â€Š15.0 minutes; 25 %). During an eight-hour working day, computers were used on average for 123.5 ±â€Š44.4 minutes; surgeons spent the shortest period of time on computers (71.5 ±â€Š16.6 minutes). The direct patient-related work time (excluding the time spent on operations) was considerably lower (33.8 + 22.7 minutes; 7 %) than the time spent daily on documentation, increased to 80.7 ±â€Š62.9 minutes when the time expended on actual surgical tasks was taken into account, and was then similar to the time spent on documentation (93.1 minutes). DISCUSSION: This pilot study was the first to determine, in real time, the work processes of doctors from different specialties at a German hospital. We noted a disparity between administrative and patient-related tasks in the in-patient setting. Legal and economic requirements exert a negative impact on medical care. We need to develop strategies for effective utilization of medical resources and for ensuring a high standard of medical care.

New Reproductive Privacy Rule to Protect Both Patients and Physicians.

This Viewpoint describes the newly finalized Reproductive Privacy Rule, a HIPAA regulatory update intended to prevent law enforcement in abortion-restrictive states from obtaining reproductive care medical records to prosecute patients and physicians.

Assessment of Knowledge of Legal Provisions on Organ Donation and Transplantation amongst Healthcare Workers in Nigeria: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Advancements in the medical field have made organ transplantation an attractive treatment option for patients when indicated. Shortage of organs and commodification of organs are major challenges encountered in organ donation and transplantation. These could potentially breed unethical practices, if the process is not well regulated. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of healthcare workers (HCWs) on the legal provisions regulating organ donation and transplantation in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst physicians and nurses across Nigeria. Knowledge of legal provisions on organ donation and transplantation was assessed using a validated questionnaire that had 21 questions derived from the National Health Act. Each correctly answered question was given 1 point with a total obtainable score of 21 points. A score of ≥14 points was classified as good knowledge. P <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 836 physicians and nurses with a mean age of 37.61 ± 9.78 years participated in the study. Females and physicians constituted 53.3% and 62.9% of the respondents, respectively. The mean knowledge score of the respondents was 9.70 ± 2.91 points. Eighty-three (9.9%) respondents had a good knowledge score. There was a significantly higher proportion of male HCWs (P < 0.037) and older HCWs (P = 0.017) with good knowledge of legal provisions. On logistic regression, age was the only factor found to be associated with good knowledge of legal provision (adjusted odds ratio: 3.92; confidence interval: 1.33-11.59; P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The overall knowledge of legal provisions on organ donation and transplant was very poor amongst HCWs in Nigeria. There is a need to educate them on these provisions to curb unethical practices.

Doctors, FIRs, and Arrest in Alleged Medical Negligence Cases in India: Demystifying the Legal Tenability.

The relationship between a doctor and a patient is a contract, retaining the essential elements of the tort. Modern medical practice has evolved alongside the court of law to regulate the conduct of doctors and hospitals to reduce litigations of medical negligence. Lately, Indian patients have become more aware of their rights and the Consumer Protection Act. This awareness encourages patients to litigate and seek the help of redressal forums to mitigate their loss/injury in cases of medical negligence. Though there is a rise in complaints of medical negligence filed against doctors and hospitals, these allegations are often frivolous. The specter of litigation constantly looms over medical practitioners, who frequently struggle to defend themselves in a court of law, causing undue anxiety and anguish. Thus, a doctor can be considered the second victim in a medical negligence case. Lack of awareness regarding their legal rights and pertinent laws coupled with contradictory actions of the law enforcement agencies while handling alleged medical negligence cases worsens a doctor's trepidation. Hence, this article attempts to raise awareness among medical professionals, which will thereby allay undue fear while facing an allegation.

[Critical results reporting: the importance of local partnership agreements]. / Overdracht van sterk afwijkende laboratoriumuitslagen.

Critical results should be reported to the physician as soon as possible so that the physician can take the necessary follow-up actions. Failure or non-timely reporting of such results may lead to serious health damage or death to the patient. This article focusses on the reporting of results from the laboratory to the physician and discusses the bottlenecks and the separate (legal) responsibilities of the physician and the laboratory. Improving the process of the reporting and follow-up of critical results is a joint responsibility of the laboratory and the physician requesting the laboratory tests. This could be achieved by local partnership agreements.

Consideraciones bioéticas para la investigación sobre los programas de residencias médicas / Consideracions bioètiques per a la investigació sobre els programes de residències mediques / Bioethical considerations for research on medical residents

El presente artículo argumenta que es necesaria la investigación sobre los programas de residencias médicas para mejorar el entorno laboral y académico que viven los médicos y médicas en su formación como especialistas. Por lo que se proponen algunas consideraciones para garantizar una investigación ética. Para ello, el artículo sigue la estructura de dos premisas y una conclusión, donde cada premisa se fundamenta analíticamente. La primera premisa es que los factores estructurales de los programas de residencias médicas conducen a una condición de vulnerabilidad, se sustenta la primera premisa al explorar los factores estructurales que contribuyen a su vulnerabilidad desde el análisis del contexto mexicano y el marco teórico de la interseccionalidad. Así, se presentan algunas de las características que se entrecruzan y determinan la forma en la que los y las residentes experimentan en sus espacios sociales y ambientes de desarrollo. La segunda premisa es que la investigación de un grupo vulnerable conduce al desarrollo de estrategias para el cambio. El artículo reconoce la necesidad de investigar y desarrollar intervenciones para los grupos sociales vulnerables con el fin de mejorar su situación y proporcionar un entorno más seguro.(AU)

L'article actual argumenta que és necessària la investigació sobre els programes de residències mèdiques per millorar l'entorn laboral i acadèmic que viuen els metges en la seva formació com a especialistes. Per això, es proposen algunes consideracions per garantir una investigació ètica. L'article segueix l'estructura de dues premisses i una conclusió, on cada premissa es fonamenta analíticament. La primera premissa és que els factors estructurals dels programes de residències mèdiques porten a una condició de vulnerabilitat. Aquesta primera premissa es fonamenta explorant els factors estructurals que contribueixen a la seva vulnerabilitat des de l'anàlisi del context mexicà i el marc teòric de la interseccionalitat. Així, es presenten algunes de les característiques que es creuen i determinen la forma en què els residents experimenten en els seus espais socials i entorns de desenvolupament. La segona premissa és que la investigació d'un grup vulnerable condueix al desenvolupament d'estratègies per al canvi. L'article reconeix la necessitat d'investigar i desenvolupar intervencions per als grups socials vulnerables amb l'objectiu de millorar la seva situació i proporcionar un entorn més segur.(AU)

This paper argues that research on medical residency programs is necessary to improve the work and academic environment that physicians experience in their training as specialists. Therefore, some considerations are proposed to ensure ethical research. on medical residents. For this purpose, the paper follows the structure of two premises and a conclusion, where each premise is analytically supported. The first premise is that the structural factors of medical residency programs lead to a condition of vulnerability. The first premise is supported by exploring the structural factors that contribute to their vulnerability from the analysis ofthe Mexican context and the theoretical framework of intersectionality. Thus, some of the characteristics that intersect and determine the way in which residents experience their social spaces and development environments are presented. The second premiseis that researching a vulnerable group leads to the development of strategies for change. The article recognizes the need to research and develop interventions for vulnerable social groups to improve their situation and provide a safer environment.(AU)

Critics Say New State "Conscience Laws" Give Physicians Carte Blanche to Refuse Patients.

This Medical News feature discusses state laws that protect physicians who refuse to provide certain services because of religious or moral beliefs.

The Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action-Fewer Black Physicians and More Health Disparities for Minoritized Groups.

This Viewpoint discusses the US Supreme Court's June 2023 ruling on affirmative action and its repercussions for Black physicians and health equity for racial and ethnic minority groups.

Generative AI in Health Care and Liability Risks for Physicians and Safety Concerns for Patients.

This Viewpoint discusses the potential use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in medical care and the liability risks for physicians using the technology, as well as offers suggestions for safeguards to protect patients.

Acerca del artículo La responsabilidad jurídica del médico, conceptos que se debaten entre dos ciencias / About the Article The legal Responsibility of the Physician, Concepts that are Debated between Two Sciences

Después de leer el artículo La responsabilidad jurídica del médico, conceptos que se debaten entre dos ciencias, del licenciado y profesor Camilo L. Momblanc,1) desearíamos realizar algunas consideraciones y, sobre todo, resaltar algunos aspectos que consideramos clave en la publicación. En primer lugar, quisiéramos destacar la gran importancia del artículo por lo sensible del tema que trata pues, a pesar de su trascendencia, no ha sido abordado con la amplitud necesaria en nuestras revistas médicas. El error en medicina sirvió tradicionalmente para aprender lo que no se podía hacer, hasta que apareció la reacción de castigar al responsable del error, suponiendo que fuera producto de la incapacidad o irresponsabilidad individual, y que generara un sujeto culpable. El error pasó así a constituir una problemática no solo ética sino también con implicación legal. Ciertamente, la posibilidad de equivocarse está presente en toda actividad humana, quien nunca comete errores es porque nunca hace nada, y de hecho comete la mayor de las equivocaciones, que es precisamente no hacer nada. El peor error no es equivocarse, sino no aprender a no cometer el mismo error uno mismo y no enseñar para que no lo cometa ningún otro profesional de salud. La práctica de la medicina está sujeta a una variabilidad que no siempre puede ser controlable. Esta situación expone al personal de salud a la comisión de errores, que pueden conducir o no a la producción de daño para el paciente. Todas las intervenciones médicas diagnósticas y terapéuticas tienen riesgos de complicaciones, a veces mínimos, pero no totalmente ausentes y pueden afectar a cualquiera, aunque sean muy bien indicadas y ejecutadas.2 El problema...(AU)