[Outcomes of disciplinary proceedings against gynaecologists: comparison between the periods 1980-1991 and 1992-2003].
In a study of the archives of the Chief Inspector for Healthcare in The Netherlands during the period 1992-2003, the number of complaints against gynaecologists submitted to disciplinary boards (n = 371) was found to be higher than during the period of 1980-1991 (n = 240). On the other hand, the number of complaints per gynaecologist had decreased from 6.3 complaints per 100 gynaecologists in 1992 to 2.6/100 in 2003. The number ofcomplaints declared legitimate relative to the number of submitted complaints remained the same in both periods (55/240 (23%) in 1980-1991 and 84/371 (23%) in 1992-2003), although the percentage ofcomplaints ruled as legitimate did increase during the course of the second period from 14 between 1992-1997 to 28 during the 1998-2003 period. Interesting points included the number of rulings regarding the death of an infant (40%), the interpretation of the cardiotocography recording, the need to keep medical records up to date (in particular the informed consent) and the fact that almost 50% of complaints ruled to be legitimate related to how the locum position was arranged, the role of the duty gynaecologist and that of the house officer.
van Leusden-Donker
M B
MB
St. Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, Afd. Gynaecologie en Obstetrie, Tilburg.
Vervest
H A M
HA
Hubben
J H
JH
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006176:Gynecology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D009426:Netherlands