Analysis of malpractice claims: The Franco-Belgian “Cœlio Club” experience

Publication date: Available online 11 July 2019Source: Journal of Visceral SurgeryAuthor(s): F. Delaunay, T. Delaunay, E. Van Vyve, J.-L. Cardin, S. Auvray, T. Barthes, A. Bellouard, C. Bertrand, B. Bokobsa, D. Burnon, L. Charbit, J. Closset, J.P. Cossa, A. Dabrowski, J. Delaby, A. Deleuze, C. Denet, J.P. Desfachelles, T. Dugue, D. FramerySummaryMalpractice claims are a regularly increasing concern in gastrointestinal surgery. The goal of this study was to compare the current status of claims in two different French-speaking communities by a retrospective descriptive study of surgeons’ experiences, from the beginning of their practice up until December 31 2014. Data included the number, the reasons, and the results of medicolegal claims and their jurisdictions. Forty-three surgeons participated in this study. Two hundred medicolegal claims were analyzed. The mean number was 5.8 per surgeon. Bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery and parietal surgery were the most exposed. Forty-six (23%) faults were noted, while no fault was pronounced in 139 (69.5%) cases. The main reasons for lodging complaints were nosocomial infections, anastomotic leaks, poor postoperative care, hollow organ perforation, peripheral neurologic complication, and insufficient preoperative information. Forty-four percent of the complaints were analyzed by the conciliation and compensation commissions and 43.5% by the High Court. In the French-speaking group, there were 13 complaints, two of which gave rise ...
Source: Journal of Visceral Surgery - Category: Surgery Source Type: research