University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ.
University of Arizona College of Public Health and College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ.
Aesthet Surg J. 2018 Jun 13;38(7):785-792. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjx182.
Medical malpractice lawsuits contribute directly and indirectly to the cost of healthcare in the United States. Reducing medical malpractice claims represents an often unrecognized opportunity for improving both the quality and affordability of healthcare.
The aim of this study was to better understand variables of the informed consent process that may contribute to reducing malpractice claims in plastic surgery.
A prospective multiple choice questionnaire was distributed via email to all of the 1694 members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) to evaluate attitudes and practices of informed consent in relation to medical malpractice.
A total of 129 questionnaires obtained from plastic surgeons were eligible for analysis (response rate 7.6%). Respondents who provided procedure-specific brochures to their patients were significantly less likely to be sued for medical malpractice (P = 0.004) than those who did not. Plastic surgeons that participated in malpractice carrier-required courses on avoiding medical malpractice litigation had a similarly significantly reduced likelihood of lawsuits. (P = 0.04).
Variables that may reduce malpractice claims, and thereby both improve the quality and affordability of healthcare, include: (1) the use of procedure-specific patient education brochures; and (2) physician participation in malpractice insurance carrier-required courses. These findings should be of interest to physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies.
医疗事故诉讼直接或间接地增加了美国的医疗保健成本。减少医疗事故索赔是提高医疗保健质量和可负担性的一个经常被忽视的机会。
本研究旨在更好地了解知情同意过程中的变量，这些变量可能有助于减少整形手术中的医疗事故索赔。
通过电子邮件向美国美容整形外科学会（ASAPS）的 1694 名成员发送了一份前瞻性多项选择问卷，以评估与医疗事故相关的知情同意的态度和实践。
从整形外科医生处获得了 129 份符合条件的问卷进行分析（应答率为 7.6%）。与未提供特定手术宣传册的医生相比，向患者提供特定手术宣传册的医生因医疗事故而被起诉的可能性显著降低（P = 0.004）。参加避免医疗事故诉讼的保险公司要求的医疗事故课程的整形外科医生，其诉讼的可能性也显著降低（P = 0.04）。
可能降低医疗事故索赔的变量，从而提高医疗保健的质量和可负担性，包括：（1）使用特定手术的患者教育手册；（2）医生参加保险公司要求的医疗事故保险课程。这些发现应该引起医生、医院和保险公司的兴趣。
