Medicolegal issues in head and neck practices

Year 2018, Volume: 28 Issue: 4, 161 - 167, 18.12.2018

Mehmet Çelik Necati Enver Kadir Serkan Orhan Hızır Aslıyüksek Emre Özdemir Yahya Güldiken

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate causes of malpractice claims in head and neck practices in order to create more awareness and to prevent future claims. Patients and Methods: The database of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine NIFM was retrospectively reviewed between March 2005 and August 2017 and 219 malpractice cases related to the head and neck practices were found. Results: Of the 219 cases 122 55.7% were female and 97 44.3% were male. Of these cases, 194 were related to surgical procedures and 25 were related to non-surgical procedures. The most procedures included thyroidectomy, followed by tonsillectomy and open neck biopsy. The most frequent causes of claims were dyspnea n=53 and dysphonia n=49 after thyroidectomy. Of the 219 cases, 57 26% received a unanimous verdict of 'malpractice' deciding in favor of plaintiffs by the NIFM grand jury. No delinquency was found in the other 162 cases 74% . Conclusion: Physicians should be educated in the medicolegal aspects of malpractice and awareness should be raised accordingly. Despite the increasing number of studies, further research, collaboration with jurists and a universal language are required.

Keywords

Claim, complication, head and neck, malpractice, medicolegal, vocal cord paralysis

References

• 1. Garner BA. Black’s Law Dictionary. 9th ed. Chicago: West Publishing; 2009.
• 2. Available from: http://www.ttb.org.tr/mevzuat/.
• 3. Gore DC, Gregory SR. Historical perspective on medical errors: Richard Cabot and the Institute of Medicine. J Am Coll Surg 2003;197:609-11.
• 4. Kane CK. Medical Liability Claim Frequency: A 2007- 2008 Snapshot of Physicians. Available at: https:// www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/ media-browser/public/health-policy/prp-201001- claim-freq.pdf.
• 5. Mohr JC. American medical malpractice litigation in historical perspective. JAMA 2000;283:1731-7.
• 6. Simonsen AR, Duncavage JA, Becker SS. Malpractice in head and neck surgery: a review of cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2012;147:69-73.
• 7. Lydiatt DD, Sewell RK. Medical malpractice and sinonasal disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008;139:677-81.
• 8. Blake DM, Svider PF, Carniol ET, Mauro AC, Eloy JA, Jyung RW. Malpractice in otology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013;149:554-61.
• 9. Rose RM, Rosenblum J. Medicolegal otology. Am J Otol 1983;4:251-4.
• 10. Bismark MM, Gogos AJ, McCombe D, Clark RB, Gruen RL, Studdert DM. Legal disputes over informed consent for cosmetic procedures: a descriptive study of negligence claims and complaints in Australia. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2012;65:1506-12.
• 11. Svider PF, Keeley BR, Zumba O, Mauro AC, Setzen M, Eloy JA. From the operating room to the courtroom: a comprehensive characterization of litigation related to facial plastic surgery procedures. Laryngoscope 2013;123:1849-53.
• 12. Stankiewicz JA, Hotaling J. Medicolegal Issues in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Complications. Otolaryngol Clin North Am 2015;48:827-37.
• 13. Morris LG, Lieberman SM, Reitzen SD, Edelstein DR, Ziff DJ, Katz A, et al. Characteristics and outcomes of malpractice claims after tonsillectomy. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2008;138:315-20.
• 14. Lydiatt DD. Medical malpractice and cancer of the larynx. Laryngoscope 2002;112:445-8.
• 15. Tolisano AM, Bager JM. Sleep surgery and medical malpractice. Laryngoscope 2014;124:E250-4.
• 16. Svider PF, Pashkova AA, Husain Q, Mauro AC, Eloy JD, Baredes S, et al. Determination of legal responsibility in iatrogenic tracheal and laryngeal stenosis. Laryngoscope 2013;123:1754-8.
• 17. Hong SS, Yheulon CG, Sniezek JC. Salivary gland surgery and medical malpractice. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2013;148:589-94.
• 18. Lydiatt DD. Cancer of the oral cavity and medical malpractice. Laryngoscope 2002;112:816-9.
• 19. Lydiatt DD. Medical malpractice and head and neck cancer. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2004;12:71-5.
• 20. Ta JH, Liu YF, Krishna P. Medicolegal Aspects of Iatrogenic Dysphonia and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016;154:80-6.
• 21. Guçhan AS Ozkara E. Approach of Mass Media to Medical Malpractice. The 8th Congress of the Balkan Academy of Forensic Sciences. June 02-05, 2011; Phristina-KOSOVA: Proceeding Book; 2011. p. 51.
• 22. Nikoghosyan-Bossen G, Hauberg A, Homøe P. Increased number of ear-nose-throat malpractice complaints in Denmark. Dan Med J 2012;59:4321.
• 23. Nikoghosyan-Bossen G, Hauberg A, Homøe P. Systematic analysis of ear-nose-throat malpractice complaints may be beneficial for patient safety. Dan Med J 2012;59:4422.
• 24. Bassi IB, Assunção AÁ, de Medeiros AM, de Menezes LN, Teixeira LC, Côrtes Gama AC. Quality of life, self-perceived dysphonia, and diagnosed dysphonia through clinical tests in teachers. J Voice 2011;25:192-201.
• 25. Cohen SM, Dupont WD, Courey MS. Quality-of-life impact of non-neoplastic voice disorders: a metaanalysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2006;115:128-34.
• 26. Minami CA, Chung JW, Holl JL, Bilimoria KY. Impact of medical malpractice environment on surgical quality and outcomes. J Am Coll Surg 2014;218:271-8.
• 27. Ta JH, Liu YF, Krishna P. Medicolegal Aspects of Iatrogenic Dysphonia and Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016;154:80-6.
• 28. Bhattacharyya N, Shapiro NL. Associations between socioeconomic status and race with complications after tonsillectomy in children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014;151:1055-60.
• 29. Cullen KA, Hall MJ, Golosinskiy A. Ambulatory surgery in the United States, 2006. Natl Health Stat Report 2009;11:1-25.
• 30. Simonsen AR, Duncavage JA, Becker SS. A review of malpractice cases after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2010;74:977-9.
• 31. Stevenson AN, Myer CM, Shuler MD, Singer PS. Complications and legal outcomes of tonsillectomy malpractice claims. Laryngoscope 2012;122:71-4.
• 32. Winford TW, Wallin JL, Clinger JD, Graham AM. Malpractice in treatment of sinonasal disease by otolaryngologists: a review of the past 10 years. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2015;152:536-40.
• 33. Hong SS, Yheulon CG, Wirtz ED, Sniezek JC. Otolaryngology and medical malpractice: A review of the past decade, 2001-2011. Laryngoscope 2014;124:896-901.
• 34. Dawson DE, Kraus EM. Medical malpractice and rhinology. Am J Rhinol 2007;21:584-90.
• 35. Lydiatt DD. Medical malpractice and facial nerve paralysis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003;129:50-3.
• 36. Taylor RJ, Chiu AG, Palmer JN, Schofield K, O'Malley BW Jr, Wolf JS. Informed consent in sinus surgery: link between demographics and patient desires. Laryngoscope 2005;115:826-31.