Background and Objective: Medical errors are defined as negligence or mistakes in planning or
execution that lead to unintended results or complications. This study aimed to investigate complaints
following vascular surgeries referred to forensic medicine in Fars province from 1387 to 1397.
Materials & Methods: This retrospective analytical study reviewed all complaints related to vascular
surgeries across various fields, including surgery, orthopedics, urology, gynecology, ENT, maxillofacial
surgery, general practitioners, and specialists. Data were collected from files at the General Directorate of
Forensic Medicine of Fars province.
Results: The study examined 59 complaints related to vascular surgeries, involving 33 men (55.9%) and
25 women (42.4%). The suspects included 42 men (71.2%) and 7 women (11.9%). Complainants typically had
primary education and were self-employed, while suspects generally had specialized education. The
frequency of complaints against vascular surgery malpractice increased annually, with all cases being
provincial or re-provincial. Of the cases reviewed, 37 were acquitted, and 21 were convicted, representing
35.6% of the cases. Public hospitals were the most frequently mentioned sites of malpractice, followed by
private hospitals and board of trustees’ hospitals. The most common cause of complaint was patient death,
accounting for 27 cases.
Conclusion: The study of medical malpractice cases related to vascular surgery from 1387 to 1397
revealed that most complainants had low educational levels, while suspects had higher education levels.
Most complainants and suspects were male. Complaints primarily involved public hospitals, followed by
private hospitals. Patient death was the most common complication associated with medical malpractice,
followed by treatment complications. After review by the primary and re-provincial commissions, most
suspects were acquitted, with about one-third convicted of malpractice.