Anscher Mitchell S, Anscher Barbara M
Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Brachytherapy. 2006 Apr-Jun;5(2):131-4. doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2006.01.004.
In the United States, medical malpractice litigation, and the rising cost of malpractice insurance, is a crisis that threatens to restrict patient access to high-risk services, especially obstetrics and certain surgical procedures. Radiation Oncology, though a small specialty, is very technologically oriented. Because the history of product liability and malpractice litigation in this country parallels the technologic revolution, practitioners of this specialty are clearly at risk for litigation. Because legislative relief is unlikely to be forthcoming in the near future, many specialty societies have assumed the responsibility for devising means to protect members from frivolous law suits, without compromising a patient's right to due process. To date, Radiation Oncology societies have not taken a leadership role in this movement, preferring instead to cede this responsibility to the American College of Radiology. Opportunities exist for specialty societies to define standards of care and establish guidelines for expert witness testimony. To date, the courts have been supportive of these efforts. Herein, we summarize some of the salient issues of the malpractice crisis facing Radiation Oncology and offer suggestions for change within the specialty to better address the malpractice problem.
在美国，医疗事故诉讼以及医疗事故保险费用的不断上涨，构成了一场危机，有可能限制患者获得高风险服务的机会，尤其是产科和某些外科手术。放射肿瘤学虽是一个小众专业，但技术导向性很强。鉴于该国产品责任和医疗事故诉讼的历史与技术革命同步，该专业的从业者显然面临诉讼风险。由于近期不太可能出台立法救济措施，许多专业协会已承担起责任，设计方法保护成员免受 frivolous 诉讼，同时又不损害患者获得正当程序的权利。迄今为止，放射肿瘤学协会在这一行动中尚未发挥领导作用，而是更愿意将这一责任让给美国放射学会。专业协会有机会界定护理标准并制定专家证人证词的指导方针。迄今为止，法院一直支持这些努力。在此，我们总结放射肿瘤学面临的医疗事故危机的一些突出问题，并就该专业内部的变革提出建议，以更好地解决医疗事故问题。
