Medical malpractice related to urology: an analysis of court decisions in Turkey

The aim of this study is to examine the lawsuits filed against urologists in Turkey, to reveal the results of these lawsuits and the sub-branch of urology they are related to, to discuss the possible reasons for the lawsuits and what can be done to prevent them.

The case outcomes obtained using the keyword "Urology" from the publicly accessible official website of the Presidency of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Turkey between 2018 and 2024 were analyzed by two expert urologists.

Of the 215 cases reviewed, the outcomes of 25 cases that met our inclusion criteria were analyzed. Sixteen of these cases were filed against private hospitals. Fourteen of the Supreme Court rulings involved civil (compensation) lawsuits, while 11 were criminal cases. Thirteen cases were related to endourology, and 9 patients had urinary system stone disease. Seventeen of the lawsuits involved allegations of postoperative medical errors. Five cases were attributed to procedural skill errors, and four were due to a lack of informed consent. Complications led to the death of seven patients. The decisions of the first-instance courts resulted in 12 acquittals, 7 compensation rulings, and 6 criminal convictions. At the Supreme Court level, 12 cases were ruled against the physicians.

Nearly half of the cases resulted in rulings against urologists, with the majority being related to endourology. Our study emphasizes the importance of adhering to international medical guidelines, providing informed consent to patients, and carefully conducting postoperative follow-ups.