title: [Consequences of lawsuits on affected doctors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the consequences of a judicial claim on the private life and professional practice of affected doctors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive study was performed on the basis of 169 surveys filled out by physicians subjected to a lawsuit in Spain in the period including 2002-2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The claim produced a bad or very bad personal experience in 98.8%. A total of 85.1% admitted repercussions on family life, 84% made some change in the way they worked, and 57.4% admitted effects on their vocation. There was an unfavorable court ruling in 6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were important repercussions on doctors after a lawsuit, both on their private and family life, as well as the way they approach medical practice.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Toxicología y Legislación Sanitaria, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perea-Pérez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santiago-Sáez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Labajo-González
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Albarrán-Juan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult