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Improving Retinopathy of Prematurity Care: A Medico-Legal Perspective
Anand Vinekar1, Anil Gangwe2, Samarth Agarwal3
1Narayana Nethralaya Eye Institute, Bangalore, India.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major cause of infant blindness, particularly in India. This study reviews legal cases to identify best practices for ROP care, aiming to reduce litigation and protect infant vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Medical Law
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable infant blindness globally.
- India has the highest number of premature births, with high ROP incidence and visual loss.
- Managing ROP in Asia is challenging due to large patient numbers, specialist shortages, and legal issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze Indian legal judgments concerning ROP over the past decade.
- To extract key clinical lessons from medico-legal cases related to ROP.
- To propose best clinical practices for ROP screening and treatment to minimize litigation.
Main Methods:
- Review of Indian jurisprudence literature pertaining to ROP from the last 10 years.
- Synthesis of clinical insights derived from legal case outcomes.
- Development of recommendations for ROP care protocols.
Main Results:
- Legal cases highlight critical aspects of ROP management and potential pitfalls.
- Analysis reveals recurring themes in ROP-related litigation.
- Identification of areas where clinical practices can be improved to prevent legal challenges.
Conclusions:
- Understanding ROP-related legal precedents is crucial for healthcare providers in India.
- Implementing recommended clinical practices can safeguard both infant welfare and clinician interests.
- Proactive management and adherence to guidelines are essential for mitigating ROP and associated legal risks.
Abstract:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of preventable infant blindness in the world. India leads all nations with the highest number of premature infants born each year. Asia has the highest estimated incidence, where visual loss from ROP is over twice as high per million live births compared to established market economies. The problems of ROP management in these countries are compounded by a large cohort of babies who require screening, relatively few ROP specialists, and more recently medico-legal challenges. The authors share the Indian jurisprudence literature from the past decade relating to ROP, summarizing key clinical lessons learned from these legal judgments. The authors endeavor to enlist good clinical practices for various key steps involved in ROP care to help mitigate future litigations as well as protect the clinical interest of the infants who require ROP screening and treatment.
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