title: Epidemiology of medico-legal litigations and related medical errors in Central and Northern Saudi Arabia. A retrospective prevalence study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study medico-legal litigations and related medical errors in Central (Al-Qassim), and Northern (Hael) districts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and to identify types and causes of errors to reduce medical errors and patient harm.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective prevalence study was carried out between May 2010 and December 2011 to analyze medico-legal litigations in Al-Qassim and Hael districts that were investigated by the Al-Qassim Medico-Legal Committee, Al-Qassim, KSA. Final verdicts issued between 1992 and 2009 included 293 cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient`s mean age was 29.5 years. Fifty-seven percent of the patients were females, and 92% were Saudis. The Obstetric and Gynecology department was involved in 29.7% of litigations followed by General Surgery, and Pediatrics (11.3% each). Of the 635 defendants, 90% were physicians, and 7.6% were nurses. Investigations showed no error in 47.1% of cases, error but no harm in 11.9%, and error resulted in harm in 39.6%. Errors were negligence (45.8%), wrong diagnosis (14.2%), surgical error (10.3%), and administrative error (5.2%). The average total duration of litigations was 13.9 months. Type of harm was the most significant predictor to determine a guilty decision (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obstetric practice in Al-Qassim and Hael districts and provider negligence contribute to a large portion of medico-legal litigations, and therefore this has to be further studied to recognize the specific causes and possible interventions. A systematic review of the medico-legal committee is needed to shorten the long duration of litigation.
authors: Medical Education, Training, and Research Administration (MERC), King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Al-Qassim Health Directorate, PO Box 2290, Buraidah, Al-Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. basem2@hotmail.com
authors: Basem Y
authors: BY
authors: Henary
authors: Omar A
authors: OA
authors: Al-Yahia
authors: Saleh A
authors: SA
authors: Al-Gabbany
authors: Salah M
authors: SM
authors: Al-Kharaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006176:Gynecology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010820:Physicians / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult