[Patients' complaints--many channels and poor oversight]

Area of Science:

• Medical Law
• Public Health Policy
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Patient complaints in Norway regarding personal injury or professional misconduct have multiple handling pathways.
• Current systems include local resolution, administrative channels for misconduct, and legal channels for damages.
• Norway is transitioning from court-based negligence claims to an objective evidence-based insurance compensation system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current systems for handling patient complaints in Norway.
• To compare Norway's complaint handling system with Sweden's.
• To advocate for a reassessment of Norway's current approach to patient injury claims.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of Norwegian and Swedish patient complaint systems.
• Review of administrative and legal channels for claims.
• Examination of the shift towards an insurance-based compensation model.

Main Results:

• Case allocation to administrative or legal channels in Norway appears haphazard.
• There is a discernible shift from court litigation requiring proof of negligence to an insurance system.
• The Swedish system serves as a point of comparison for potential improvements.

Conclusions:

• Norway's current patient complaint and compensation systems require critical reassessment.
• A more structured and equitable approach to handling patient injury claims is needed.
• International comparisons, particularly with Sweden, can inform necessary reforms.