[Malpractice by physicians in West Pomerania]

Physicians are charged with exceptional responsibility as they take care of the life and health of their patients. The aim of the present doctoral dissertation was to determine the extent and circumstances of malpractice by physicians in West Pomerania reported to Circuit Medical Tribunals of the Circuit Chamber of Physicians and Dentists in Stettin and in Koszalin in 1996-2006, including the dynamics of malpractice, profiles of accused doctors and dentists, and analysis of culpabilities and punishments validly adjudicated.

The research material was compiled basing on the documents of the Circuit Medical Tribunal of the Circuit Chamber of Physicians and Dentists in Stettin and the Circuit Medical Tribunal of the Circuit Chamber of Physicians and Dentists in Koszalin. The material consisted of records of proceedings in which a legally valid verdict was passed by the Circuit Medical Tribunal in 1996-2006. Dynamics were analyzed basing on fixed base indices and chain indices.

1. The number of cases and verdicts passed in Stettin and Koszalin increased substantially in 2002-2003 compared with 1996. 2. Surgical specialties dominated over non-surgical ones as regards accusations of malpractice. 3. The majority of malpractice deeds occurred between Monday and Friday 4. The majority of physicians in West Pomerania (Koszalin and Stettin) accused of malpractice were found guilty. 5. The majority of accusations in West Pomerania concerned art. 8 of the Medical Ethics Code and art. 4 of the Physician and Dentist Profession Act. In valid verdicts, the most frequent punishment was admonishment, whereas the most severe punishment was reprimand. 6. Physicians from Koszalin found guilty were significantly younger than those acquitted by the Tribunal. Deeds of malpractice punished by the Tribunal were committed on weekends more often than on other days. 7. None of the cases in Stettin demonstrated a relationship between malpractice and sociodemographic or professional factors.