title: Medico-legal considerations in a case of splenic injury that occurred during colonoscopy.
abstract: Colonoscopy has became the gold standard diagnostic and therapeutic treatment for rectum and colon diseases. The splenic injury is a rare complication of colonoscopy and relatively few cases (less than 70) have been reported in the literature so far. Here we present a case of splenic rupture identified in an 80 year-old man few hours after an apparently uneventful colonoscopy. Acknowledging a causal relationship between the lesion and the diagnostic procedures, we discuss the possible medico-legal implications with regard to professional liability considering the exceptional nature of such an event and the stance recently taken by the Italian law.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zandonà
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turrina
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pasin
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Leo
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006465:Hemoperitoneum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011859:Radiography; D013156:Splenectomy; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery