---

Recent trends of medical negligence – An autopsy based study at lady hardinge medical college, New Delhi

---

Review Article

Author Details : B L Chaudhary*, Rishab K Singh, Sukhdeep Singh, Pawan K Shukla

Volume : 5, Issue : 2, Year : 2020

Article Page : 35-38

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijfmts.2020.009

Suggest article by email

Get Permission

---

Abstract

Background: Due to rise in public awareness, reporting of medical negligence cases increased many folds in India. Medical Negligence is absence of reasonable skill, misconduct by a medical practitioner by not providing enough care (act of omission or commission) resulting in breach of their duties and harming the patients.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of all autopsy cases conducted during the period of 2013-17 in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. The case of Medical negligence was decided based on history enumerated by Investigation Officer. 
Results: The highest number (1.23%) of alleged medical negligence deaths were reported during year 2016. Maximum numbers (42%) were observed in age group of 0-10 years followed by 21-30 years i.e. 23%. Female were outnumbered to male constituting 55% of total medical negligence deaths. 23% death cases were observed in Medicine and Pediatrics departments followed by Obstetrics and Gynecology. Viscera for chemical analysis and histopathology were preserved in majority of cases i.e. 77% and 74% respectively.
Conclusion: Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and General Surgery are the branches facing most suits of negligence. Careful attention, empathy, clear communication, soft skills and consent is helpful to avoid allegations and  medicolegal autopsy should be conducted in all alleged cases of negligence.

Keywords: Medical Negligence, Allegation, Death, Autopsy, Viscera.

How to cite : Chaudhary B L, Singh R K, Singh S, Shukla P K, Recent trends of medical negligence – An autopsy based study at lady hardinge medical college, New Delhi. IP Int J Forensic Med Toxicol Sci 2020;5(2):35-38

This is an Open Access (OA) journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.