A survey of sued physicians' self-reported reactions to malpractice litigation in Iran.
OBJECTIVE
To illustrate the psychological effect of grievances and negligence litigation on doctors sued by Legal Medicine Organization Complaints Commissions.


METHODS
Retrospective survey regarding the views of a large sample of Iranian sued physicians by using a piloted anonymous questionnaire.


RESULTS
The answer rate was 77.5%. Seventy-six per cent of participants encountered monitoring criteria for psychiatric disturbance. Rate of psychological morbidity in between study cluster was much higher than Iranian general population, Iranian non-sued general practitioners, interns and medical students. There was, however, minimal dysfunction of work, public or family life. The survey form to estimate the doctor's realization of lawful risk displayed that doctors yet misconceive medico-legal risk. Doctors being sued or having legal protests against them depict the process as an exceedingly demanding event.


CONCLUSIONS
Grievance or legal action is unusual in the daily practice of doctors, but in today's medico-legal domain they face a continuous possible threat. The threat of, or real, legal process can cause psychological, corporeal and behavioral practice changes.
Saberi
Seyed Mehdi
SM
Legal Medicine Organization of Tehran, Iran.
Sheikhazadi
Ardeshir
A
Joghataei
Hojatalah
H
Mohammadi
Vida
V
Fallahian
Masoumeh
M
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires