Analysis of Forensic Autopsy in 120 Cases of Medical Disputes Among Different Levels of Institutional Settings.
Despite advances in medical science, the causes of death can sometimes only be determined by pathologists after a complete autopsy. Few studies have investigated the importance of forensic autopsy in medically disputed cases among different levels of institutional settings. Our study aimed to analyze forensic autopsy in 120 cases of medical disputes among five levels of institutional settings between 2001 and 2012 in Wenzhou, China. The results showed an overall concordance rate of 55%. Of the 39% of clinically missed diagnosis, cardiovascular pathology comprises 55.32%, while respiratory pathology accounts for the remaining 44. 68%. Factors that increase the likelihood of missed diagnoses were private clinics, community settings, and county hospitals. These results support that autopsy remains an important tool in establishing causes of death in medically disputed case, which may directly determine or exclude the fault of medical care and therefore in helping in resolving these cases.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Lin-Sheng
LS
Yu
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Guang-Hua
GH
Ye
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Yan-Yan
YY
Fan
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Xing-Biao
XB
Li
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Xiang-Ping
XP
Feng
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Jun-Ge
JG
Han
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Ke-Zhi
KZ
Lin
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.
Miao-Wu
MW
Deng
Department of Forensic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Institute of Forensic Science, Wenzhou Medical University, 82 Wenzhou West College Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, 325035, P. R., China.|Forensic Medical Management Services, 850 R. S. Gass Blvd, Nashville, TN, 37216.
Feng
F
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
clinical settings; concordance; forensic autopsy; forensic science; medical disputes; misdiagnosis; missed diagnosis