A Cohort Study to Estimate Prevalence of Medical Negligence Cases Resolved by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions of South India

Abstract

Medical negligence is a significant issue for the healthcare system since it is one of the risks to patient safety, which harms the patient. These accusations against doctors are significant because long-running litigation might have negative effects on both patients and doctors. To estimate the reasons and factors responsible for medical negligence and to ascertain pattern of cases and reasons for filing suit, outcome, time schedule of decision-making process. To determine role of Forensic expert's opinion in decision making. A prior approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics and Research Committee. This retrospective and prospective cohort study focused on Cases which were registered and judgement disposed off medical negligence cases given in State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions of South Indian states. Following a case-by-case analysis, it was discovered that just 17 out of a total of 231 cases included government hospitals, while the remaining 214 cases were related to private hospitals. Furthermore, they were divided into corporate hospitals and self-owned institutions, which together accounted for 60 and 154 cases respectively. Any medical treatment where a consumer is charged a fee is covered under the new Consumer Protection Act 2019, and the doctor-patient relationship is considered "contractual." The goal of this study was to look into medical negligence complaints that were reported to the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions of South India in order to offer suggestions to lessen the complaints and enhance service delivery.