Patients' complaints: some aspects of the evaluation of physicians' conduct by the Danish National Board of Health.
This study comprises all complaints made by patients to the Danish National Board of Health in 1984-1985. All disciplinary cases regarding physicians' conduct are evaluated by the board. A quantitative evaluation was carried out of the 1,062 complaints received by the board in the period under study. Special attention was given to some topics. It is emphasized that adverse outcome termed fortuitous has been narrowed over time, but more investigation is needed, in order to have a more objective foundation from which to determine whether an adverse outcome really is fortuitous or whether it is due to negligence. A central registration of cases of adverse outcome is suggested. The problem of allocating responsibility is very much open to debate, but more adequate case journal keeping is also mentioned. It was surprising that violations of information and consent requirements are often sanctioned very mildly, and more attention to this sphere is appropriate in order to ensure patients' rights. In this connection regular inquiries into patient satisfaction should be considered as a feedback mechanism.
Segest
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D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018570:Risk Assessment