[Medico-legal assessment of medical malpractice in ambulance service based on the casework material collected at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Białystok].
BACKGROUND
Emergency medical personnel is particularly concerned about medical malpractice. The objective of the paper was the analysis of casework material assessed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok in the years 2001-2006 for medical malpractice by ambulance service staff.


METHODS
A total of 80 opinions assessing improper treatment and diagnostic procedures and the problem of withdrawal and organizational malfunction was reviewed.


RESULTS
Medical malpractice was concluded in 38 (47.5%) cases analysed. In 22 cases malpractice of ambulance staff resulted in patients' demise. Most of cases included improper diagnosis of patient's condition. Predominantly, misdiagnosed cases were related to circulatory, nervous and respiratory malfunctions. Diagnostic errors caused by young and inexperienced medical doctors accounted for most of malpractice in the material analysed.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded, that medical doctors are inadequately prepared to differential diagnostics of pathologies. Errors caused by ambulance dispatchers included denials of service in life threatening cases.
Zakład Medycyny Sadowej Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku, ul. Kilińskiego 1, 15-230 Białystok.
Iwona
I
Ptaszyńska-Sarosiek
Anna
A
Niemcunowicz-Janica
Jerzy
J
Janica
Tomasz
T
Dopierała
Janusz
J
Załuski
Zofia
Z
Wardaszka
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland