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Professional Liability Prophylaxis Monroe E. Trout MD, JD Published online: 13 Jul 2010.

To cite this article: Monroe E. Trout MD, JD (1977) Professional Liability Prophylaxis, Hospital Topics, 55:6, 34-34, DOI: 10.1080/00185868.1977.9950437 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00185868.1977.9950437

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Professional Liabilify Prophylaxis MONROE E. TROUT, MD, JD New York, New York

rofessional liability prophylaxis will only occur through education. When methods are devised to currently evaluate the incidents leading to injury so that problem areas are quickly identified, then educational programs can be directed to the avoidance of such injuries. In a small pilot study performed for the Secretary's (HEW) Commission on Medical Malpractice it was found that improper treatment was the cause of suit in 78% of the cases and failure to diagnose in 22% of the cases. 75% of the suits resulted from,injuries occurring in hospital settings with 6% in the recovery room and 39% in the surgical suite. Of the improper treatment cases, the largest percentage (25%) was due to a foreign body being left after surgery. The second highest incidence was drug related (11%) and next was the failure of medical equipment (9%). 6% were due to anesthesia errors, 2% each to transfusion problems, infection and casting problems and 4% to improper supervision. In addition, 6% were due to an error in prescription or insufficient therapy and 5% to legal theory. The remainder were scattered wide Iy. In the failure to diagnose category, the largest percentages were the failure to diagnose fractures and cancer (each 4%), failure to diagnose infection (3%), failure to diagnose pregnancy (2%), and failure to diagnose hemorrhage or ulceration (1 % each). I believe it is quite evident from this small study that 25% of malpractice cases could be eliminated by more careful attention to removing foreign bodies or not leaving such behind during surgery. Another 9% could be eliminated by insuring that proper emergency equipment is not only available but is in good working condition. Certainly physicians should insist that hospital administrators have periodic and routine checks of all equipment in the operating suite, especially that necessary for emergencies such as defibrillators, oxygen equipment, etc. It is this type of education which will eventually have the greatest impact on the problem.

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Note: A Summary of a paper presented the 1977 ACS Cfinfcal Congress.

HOSPITAL TOPICS

Professional liability prophylaxis.

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