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Published on: February 16, 2011
Physician's error: medical or legal concept?
1The Institute of Social Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia.
Abstract:
This article deals with the common term of different physician's errors that often happen in daily practice of health care. Author begins with the term of medical malpractice, defined broadly as practice of unjustified acts or failures to act upon the part of a physician or other health care professionals, which results in harm to the patient. It is a common term that includes many types of medical errors, especially physician's errors. The author also discusses the concept of physician's error in particular, which is understood no more in traditional way only as classic error in acting something manually wrong without necessary skills (medical concept), but as an error which violates patient's basic rights and which has its final legal consequence (legal concept). In every case the essential element of liability is to establish this error as a breach of the physician's duty. The first point to note is that the standard of procedure and the standard of due care against which the physician will be judged is not going to be that of the ordinary reasonable man who enjoys no medical expertise. The court's decision should give finale answer and legal qualification in each concrete case. The author's conclusion is that higher protection of human rights in the area of health equaly demands broader concept of physician's error with the accent to its legal subject matter.
Insights
Physician errors, including medical malpractice, are redefined beyond manual mistakes to encompass violations of patient rights with legal consequences. Establishing a breach of duty is key for liability in healthcare practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Law
- Healthcare Practice
- Patient Rights
Background:
- Medical malpractice encompasses unjustified acts or omissions by healthcare professionals causing patient harm.
- Physician errors are increasingly viewed through a legal lens, not just a medical one.
- Establishing a breach of the physician's duty of care is central to liability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the evolving concept of physician error in healthcare.
- To differentiate between medical and legal definitions of physician error.
- To advocate for a broader legal understanding of physician errors.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of medical malpractice and physician error.
- Examination of legal standards of care in medical negligence cases.
- Review of the intersection between human rights and healthcare law.
Main Results:
- Physician error is understood as a violation of patient rights with legal ramifications.
- The standard of care is judged against professional medical expertise, not a layperson's.
- Courts provide the definitive legal qualification for physician errors.
Conclusions:
- A broader concept of physician error, emphasizing its legal aspects, is necessary for enhanced patient rights protection.
- Healthcare law must adapt to protect human rights in medical contexts.
- The legal subject matter of physician error requires continued focus.
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