School of Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas.
J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2018 Jan;25(1):30-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2017.09.018. Epub 2017 Sep 29.
Bowel injury is a known inherent complication of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery; however, it does not automatically signify medical malpractice. Plaintiff attorneys representing patients seeking legal recourse from a bowel injury typically allege claims of intraoperative negligence, delay in diagnosis, or lack of informed consent in an effort to circumvent the assertion that it is a known inherent complication. In addition, damage awards in bowel injury lawsuits can easily exceed the amount covered by the policy limits of a medical malpractice insurance plan, leaving the gynecologist financially responsible for the difference. Therefore, it is crucial to understand when it may be appropriate to consent to a settlement offer, which can relieve the gynecologist from financial liability for amounts awarded above the medical malpractice policy limits. The purpose of this medical-legal review is to make minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons more aware of the legal strategies used by plaintiff attorneys representing patients who have incurred bowel injuries, and how to limit liability in lawsuits.
肠损伤是微创妇科手术已知的固有并发症，但这并不自动构成医疗事故。代表寻求肠损伤法律赔偿的患者的原告律师通常会提出术中疏忽、诊断延误或缺乏知情同意的指控，试图规避肠损伤是已知固有并发症这一说法。此外，肠损伤诉讼中的损害赔偿金额很容易超过医疗事故保险计划的政策限额，使妇科医生需要承担超出保险限额的差额。因此，了解何时同意和解提议是合适的，这可以减轻妇科医生对医疗事故保险限额以上判给金额的财务责任，这一点至关重要。本医学法律审查的目的是使微创妇科外科医生更加了解代表遭受肠损伤的患者的原告律师所使用的法律策略，以及如何在诉讼中限制责任。
