title: Medical malpractice, defensive medicine and role of the "media" in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For many years until now, Italy has been subjected to an inconsistent and contradictory media campaign. On one hand the "media" present us with bold and reassuring messages about the progress of medical science; on the other hand they are prone to kneejerk criticism every time medical treatment does not have the desired effect, routinely describing such cases as glaring examples of "malasanità", an Italian word of recent coinage used to denote medical malpractice. Newspaper reports of legal proceedings involving health treatment are frequently full of errors and lack any scientific basis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The published data confirm the unsustainably high number of lawsuits against doctors and medical structures, accompanied by demands for compensation arising from true or alleged medical errors or mistakes blamed on the work of health structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently Italian citizens have a greater awareness of their right to health than in the past, and patients' expectations have risen. A discrepancy is emerging between the current state of medical science and the capacities of individual doctors and health structures. Lastly, there is a need for greater monitoring of the quality of health care services and a greater emphasis on health risk prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Respiratory Care Unit, San Cesario di Lecce, Local Health Unit, via Croce di Lecce, Lecce, Italy ; Center for Bioethics and Human Rights, University of the Salento, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Toraldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Humanities, Political Philosophy, Degree course in Political Science and International Relations, University of the Salento, Palazzo Parlangeli - Via Stampacchia, Lecce, 73100 Italy.
authors.forename: Ughetta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vergari
authors.affiliation: Department of Philophy, University of the Salento, Via A.C. Casetti n. 2, Lecce, 73100 Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toraldo
keywords: Clinical ethics; Defensive medicine; Malpractice; Medical error