No-fault compensation in New Zealand: harmonizing injury compensation, provider accountability, and patient safety.
In 1974 New Zealand jettisoned a tort-based system for compensating medical injuries in favor of a government-funded compensation system. Although the system retained some residual fault elements, it essentially barred medical malpractice litigation. Reforms in 2005 expanded eligibility for compensation to all "treatment injuries," creating a true no-fault compensation system. Compared with a medical malpractice system, the New Zealand system offers more-timely compensation to a greater number of injured patients and more-effective processes for complaint resolution and provider accountability. The unfinished business lies in realizing its full potential for improving patient safety.
Bismark
Marie
M
Buddle Findlay in Wellington, New Zealand. mariebismark@gmail.com
Paterson
Ron
R
D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000191:economics; D009520:New Zealand; D017751:Safety Management; D012941:Social Responsibility; D013222:State Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics*