Healthcare acquired infections: malpractice and litigation issues.
Cross infection
Litigation
Malpractice
Journal
Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunita
ISSN: 1120-9135
Titre abrégé: Ann Ig
Pays: Italy
ID NLM: 9002865
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
entrez:
16
7
2019
pubmed:
16
7
2019
medline:
30
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) represent a significant burden for hospitalized patients in terms of mortality, morbidity, length of stay and costs. Also cause medical liability and medical malpractice litigation. Specific keywords combinations were analitically searched in PubMed and Scopus databases. Publications concerning medical liability, medical malpractice and litigation issues were reviewed. The authors outlined the healthcare workers and healthcare settings mandatory duties in consideration of the Italian law. In case of infections occurred in hospital environment the patients must demonstrate the guilty nature of the physicians and healthcare settings, the existence of a harm and causal connection. Physicians and healthcare facilities defence is mainly based on demonstration that protocols and aseptic measures were adopted scrupulously applying the up to date scientific knowledge. HAI are a complex issue which need a multitask strategy and a surveillance system to control the phenomenon and help physicians and healthcare facilities to reduce malpractice litigation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) represent a significant burden for hospitalized patients in terms of mortality, morbidity, length of stay and costs. Also cause medical liability and medical malpractice litigation.
METHODS
Specific keywords combinations were analitically searched in PubMed and Scopus databases. Publications concerning medical liability, medical malpractice and litigation issues were reviewed.
RESULTS
The authors outlined the healthcare workers and healthcare settings mandatory duties in consideration of the Italian law. In case of infections occurred in hospital environment the patients must demonstrate the guilty nature of the physicians and healthcare settings, the existence of a harm and causal connection. Physicians and healthcare facilities defence is mainly based on demonstration that protocols and aseptic measures were adopted scrupulously applying the up to date scientific knowledge.
CONCLUSIONS
HAI are a complex issue which need a multitask strategy and a surveillance system to control the phenomenon and help physicians and healthcare facilities to reduce malpractice litigation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31304529
doi: 10.7416/ai.2019.2310
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM