[Drug-related claims in the Norwegian system of compensation to patients].
BACKGROUND
Patients subjected to drug-related injuries can, in accordance with Norwegian legislation, seek compensation from the Norwegian System of Patient Injury Compensation (NPE). The aim of this study was to examine what drugs and injuries instigate claims against NPE, and how these cases are resolved.


METHODS
We have assessed anonymised summaries of 992 consecutive indemnity applications received and evaluated by NPE over the period 2003-2009. We recorded the age and gender of applicants, treatment diagnosis, drugs implicated, outcome, and NPE's decision in each case.


RESULTS
A total of 964 claims were included. The most commonly implicated drugs were those affecting the nervous system (34.6%) and the musculoskeletal system (26.1%). Rofecoxib at 18.9% was the predominant single drug implicated. In two-thirds of the cases, adverse effects were given as the reason for the claim, whereas the last one-third consisted of claims for medication errors. The most common injuries were related to cardiovascular diseases (28.7%) or non-specific conditions (17.5%). 8.4% of the cases related to fatalities. In all, 26.3% of the claims resulted in compensations.


CONCLUSIONS
Few patients made use of the NPE. Most of the compensation claims in the years 2003-2009 involved rofecoxib and psychoactive drugs, and the majority of claims were rejected.
Institutt for laboratoriemedisin, barne- og kvinnesykdommer, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Norway.
Mari
M
Baardseth
Ellen
E
Lynghei
Sølvi
S
Flåte
Olav
O
Spigset
Lars
L
Slørdal
D035881:Compensation and Redress / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000401:mortality; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007783:Lactones / Q000009:adverse effects; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009664:Norway; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib