[Surgery responsibilities and costs]

This study on surgeons' medical-legal responsibility was based on a retrospective analysis of closed files involving surgeons insured by Le Sou Médical. A total of 122 files of bodily injury settled during 1998 were studied; 32% of the files in this series which had been settled in or out of court were found to be at fault; the total cost was over 7 million francs. The analysis of these files has shown that the majority of accidents resulting in legal proceedings could have been avoided.