Malpractice Claims in Dakhalia and Damietta Governorates: A 10 Year Evaluation Study

Abstract

The practice of medicine is becoming increasingly more complex. Physicians and other healthcare providers face increasing administrative and legal challenges. Malpractice Claim puts physician's finances, reputation, professional advancement, personal relationships and health at risk. In Egypt, medical malpractice problem has been magnified during the last few years. The aim of this study was to through light on medical malpractice claims in Dakahlia and Damietta regions. Results of the present study showed that there is annual increment in the number of claims. According to specialty, anesthesia was the highest percentage followed by surgery and gynecology/obstetrics. By locality, most claims were against central hospitals followed by private, general and least was university hospitals. However, claims were proved positive mostly in private hospitals followed by central, general and lastly university hospitals. For private hospitals, the most proven claims were for gynecology/obstetrics, then anesthesia but for central hospitals, anesthesia represented the most proven claims followed by surgery. Good medical practice and a good medical-patient relationship are still the best ways to minimize lawsuits and their repercussions.