Investigation of Complaints Related to Vascular Problems and events referred to Fars province general administration of forensic medicine during the years 2008 to 2018

Ghoddousi Joari, H; Ghahramani, F; Zarenejad, M; Gholamzadeh, S; Doroudchi, A

Investigation of Complaints Related to Vascular Problems and events referred to Fars province general administration of forensic medicine during the years 2008 to 2018

Document Type : آشنایی با حقوق پزشکی

Authors

H Ghoddousi Joari ¹

F Ghahramani ²

M Zarenejad ³

S Gholamzadeh ³

A Doroudchi ⁴

¹ Associated Professor of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Namazi Hospital School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

² Resident of general Surgery, Namazi Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

³ Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran

⁴ 3Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

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.

Keywords

medical malpractice

forensic medicine

vascular surgery

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