IntroductionSurgery can be dangerous not only for patients, but it also carries a risk for the surgeon in case of medical error, which can affect their future medical career. The purpose of our research is to assess the current situation regarding medical liability in General Surgery in Greece, the reasons for the allegations of medical malpractice as well as the relationship between these issues and the court results. MethodsPublished court decisions of criminal, civil, administrative and disciplinary content were searched in legal information banks, between year 1973 and 2020. Court decisions were analyzed by an expert, a specialist general surgeon and an anesthesiologist, for the causes of death and the correctness of the court decision in collaboration with the lawyers of the investigation. Results588 court decisions were retrieved, out if which 103 (17.751%) criminal (n = 81), or civil and administrative decisions (n = 22) for surgeons. Out of a total of 81 first and second instance criminal cases and appellate court decisions of the Supreme Court, 27 cases concerned negligent homicide, 16 cases concerned negligent bodily harm and seven were acquittals. Out of 22 civil cases decisions, awarding or not awarding compensation, three cases concerned negligent homicide, seven bodily harm and two were acquittals. 11 cases of negligent homicide concerned laparoscopic and bariatric surgical procedures. ConclusionsLaparoscopic surgery represents one of the most important surgical developments in the last 30 years. However, they represent a great proportion of the cases concerning medical malpractice in the greek legal system. It is important to have a national center for reporting misdiagnosis and complications and a medical liability system that will facilitate improved diagnosis, learning from diagnostic errors and delays in diagnosis, in order to avoid similar cases of malpractice in the future.

AIM:To assess the current situation in Greece regarding medical liability in neurosurgery, the involvement of anaesthetists in court decisions, the impact of court cases and decisions, the time taken to reach a final decision, and the relationship between these issues and judicial results.MATERIAL and METHODS: Legal information banks were searched for published court decisions of criminal, civil, administrative and disciplinary content from 1985 to 2021. RESULTS:A total of 52 court decisions were retrieved: 11 criminal court cases and 10 civil cases, including 7 cases of negligent homicide and 14 of bodily injuries. The duration of litigation in 17 cases was 5.5 years, while in 4 cases the duration was 14.5 years. The average compensation paid was € 101,701. CONCLUSION:Neurosurgery has a relatively small number of reported complaints of medical negligence compared to other surgical specialties in Greece. Complications of spinal surgeries represent the majority of court cases. There is a need for immediate judicial-legislative reform of the framework for seeking medical liability of doctors.

To evaluate the current landscape regarding medical liability in obstetric-gynecology (OB/GYN) physicians in Greece. Materials and methodsPublished court decisions of criminal, civil, administrative, and disciplinary content were searched in legal information banks for the years 1988-2021. The causes that led to the adverse outcome and the decisions were analyzed. ResultsA total of 184 decisions were directed against OB/GYNs. One hundred seventeen records concerned criminal cases and 67 civil cases. Thirty-four decisions concerned criminal cases of negligent homicide, 35 criminal cases of bodily harm, and 19 were acquittals. The most common causes of bodily injuries were neonatal encephalopathy, obstetric paralysis -quadriplegia and brachial plexus paralysis, and obstetric bleeding. ConclusionAccording to our results, there is a great need and challenge to maintain high standards in daily practice with continuous training and the use of international protocols. Furthermore, for each case, continuous monitoring of parturients and newborns and coordinated cooperation are necessary to reduce mortality and morbidity.

Medical malpractice occurs when a physician, through incorrect medical action or omission, causes the patient to suffer physical harm or loss of life. Orthopedics is a high-risk medical specialty. Orthopedic surgery encompasses a wide range of procedures, including joint replacements, fracture repairs, and spinal surgeries. While orthopedic surgeons strive to provide optimal care to their patients, medical liability claims are a reality they must face. The aim of this study is to analyze the epidemiological data of judicial decisions and cases in Greece for the Specialty of Orthopedics. Material and methodsPublished court decisions involving medical liabilities of orthopedic surgeons and anesthesiologists, or only orthopedic surgeons were searched, in the period between 1985 and 2021. The judicial decisions were analyzed by an experienced anesthesiologist and an orthopedic surgeon based on medical knowledge and experience. Patients' age, gender, date of operation and the causes that led to the doctors' persecution were also recorded. ResultsSeventy court decisions of the first, second, and third degree were found. These decisions related to 34 cases: seven convictions for manslaughter, 18 convictions for bodily harm, and nine acquittals -exempting compensation. They involved 11 men and 13 women. The claims mainly related to intraoperative and postoperative complications in 20 (83.3%) of the 24 cases. Complications in elective spinal and lower extremity surgeries represent 50% (n = 12) of cases, while postoperative complications account for 16.7% of cases (n = 4). ConclusionsThe present study concluded that an accumulation of experience in large orthopedic centers is needed to improve the performance of orthopedic surgeons during surgery and patient monitoring. Many legal cases are due to the mismatch between patient expectations and the limitations in medicine. Thorough preoperative control and better preoperative communication with the patient are needed, in order to improve the performance of orthopedic surgeons and prevent a significant part of the claims.

Regional anaesthesia and analgesia in the form of central or peripheral nerve blocks are part of rou tine practice because of their many advantages [1][2][3][4]. However, as with every medical intervention, there are risks of certain complications [5][6][7][8][9]. In the study by Aromaa et al., the incidence of serious complica tions was 0.45 : 10.000 after spinal and 0.52 : 10.000 after epidural anaesthesia. Factors believed to pre vent permanent injury include an atraumatic ap proach, appropriate patient selection, and timely diagnosis and treatment of complications [10].Studies of insurance claims related to regional anaesthesia and detailing specific patterns of in jury and liability have been published [10][11][12][13][14][15]. These publications have effectively identified as pects of daily practice relevant to patient safety. The knowledge gained thus far from the analysis of medical malpractice lawsuits has already led to multiple improvements in patient care and safety processes.