| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 3 | Page : 105-113 |
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Medico-legal implications in hernia surgery
Reinhard Bittner
Department of Hospital Surgery, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia; Department of Surgery, Marienhospital Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Reinhard Bittner
Supperstr. 19, 70565 Stuttgart
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | 4 |
DOI: 10.4103/ijawhs.ijawhs_27_19
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AIM: Litigation is always a severe burden for every surgeon who is involved. The study aims to show the most important reasons for an allegation and how to prevent a lawsuit.
METHODS: Based on the own experience as a medical advisor, ten medico-legal cases are analyzed and a systematic overview of the corresponding literature is given.
RESULTS: Allegation for malpractice is not very frequent; in hernia surgery, <1% of the patients are involved. Furthermore, only in 20%–40% of these cases, the decision is in favor of the claimant. However, every case is associated with compensation ranging from roughly between $19,000 and $8,000,000. Totally the author had to perform 10 reports in legal cases for the court: In three cases, compensation had been refused, because informed consent had correctly been done, and the operative situs was clearly documented, and in the third case, the preoperative diagnostics and the operative performance had been according to the medical standard. The claim was successful in three patients because of technical failure, in two cases because of wrong indication, and in two cases because of delayed reoperation.
DISCUSSION: There are five key features in the prevention of a lawsuit in surgery: (1) “informed consent:” Take the time, use a standard form, show pictures and make handwritten notes to explain in detail the indication for surgery, the technical performance of the planned intervention, and the steps of aftercare; (2) “technical performance” of the operation should follow the generally accepted medical standard. Deep knowledge of anatomy is an indispensable precondition of perfect operation; (3) a “delay in timely response” to a complication is not excusable; (4) “careful documentation” of all steps of the treatment may possibly avoid a legal case; and (5) “establishing an empathic relationship” between the surgeon and the patient and his/her relatives as well is essential for avoiding an accusation.
CONCLUSION: Medico-legal implications in hernia surgery are rare, but a severe burden for every surgeon concerned and may be associated with damage to the reputation of the surgeon and high costs. The best ways of preventing such a disaster are the correct indications and operative performance according to the current medical standard and empathic aftercare.
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