Dereymaeker A
Acta Chir Belg. 1978 Jan-Feb;77(1):57-63.
Law suits of surgeons are increasing in number. Although the surgeon has no obligation concerning results, but only concerning means, the causes of postoperative infections are numerous: inadequate preoperative work-up (chronic focal infection), operative infection by means of an assistant or a visitor, inadequate air conditioning, lengthy operation, prolonged intravenous catheter and viral hepatitis after transfusion are some examples. Liability of the anaesthetist is a difficult problem. In many institutes one anaesthetist simultaneously monitors more than one anaesthesia. The cause-effect relation between the infection and the surgical malpractice must be proven by the patient; this creates an athmosphere of suspicion in the surgical team. More recently the courts have admitted that an infection can render the patient less resistant to another complication, of which he may die.
外科医生面临的诉讼案件数量正在增加。尽管外科医生对手术结果不负有责任，而仅对手术方式负责，但术后感染的原因众多：术前检查不充分（慢性病灶感染）、助手或访客导致的手术感染、空调不足、手术时间过长、静脉导管留置时间延长以及输血后感染病毒性肝炎等。麻醉师的责任是个难题。在许多机构中，一名麻醉师要同时监测多台麻醉。患者必须证明感染与手术失误之间的因果关系；这在外科团队中营造了一种怀疑的氛围。最近，法院已经承认感染会使患者对另一种并发症的抵抗力降低，甚至可能导致死亡。
