Medical negligence in the U.K.--directions for research.

While the debate concerning compensation for victims of medical injury continues unabated, it is presented that many conclusions and recommendations are based on inadequate data. There is a need to examine, not only the legal requisites of a claim, but the factual circumstances surrounding claims. The direction of future studies must include an examination of: the relative experience of practitioners; frequency of medical specialties; demographic characteristics of patients; and the nature of the complaints.