title: Litigation in thyroid surgery in England.
abstract: Thyroid surgery has the potential for significant life-changing postoperative complications. Since 1995, the NHS Litigation Authority has handled litigation claims in England. This article reviews all thyroid surgery litigation claims between 1995 and 2012 and looks at potential strategies to minimize future claims.
authors.affiliation: Consultant General and Endocrine Surgeon, Department of Surgery, Croydon University Hospital, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon CR7 7YE.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dent
authors.affiliation: Specialist Registrar in General Surgery, Frimley Park Hospital, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey.
authors.forename: Nigel M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bagnall
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D058926:Intraoperative Awareness; D007603:Jurisprudence; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*