Medical Standards Seen from the Perspective of Changes in Academic Society Themes: Investigation of a Lawsuit Concerning the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a violation of the standard of care for prevention of pulmonary embolism by preventing deep vein thrombosis occurred in 1999. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Themes from past general meetings of the three societies that comprise the Japanese Board of Cardiovascular Surgery that pertained to venous thromboembolism from 1999 to 2006 were examined and analyzed for an appeal hearing to determine whether a violation had occurred. RESULTS: The first pertinent session on a method for the prevention of pulmonary embolism was presented in 2006 by the Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery. Thus, the medical treatment performed in this case did not violate the standard of care in 1999. CONCLUSION: The "standard of medical treatment at the time", can be discerned by tracing consensus agreement at session meetings. If the consensus from each session is recorded, a more detailed analysis can be made of the agreement reached by board members.