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

Abstract

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. 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.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. 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.

Analysis of the role of autopsy teaching in the context of precision medicine

“…Autopsy is abbreviated as postmortem examination, which is to identify and determine various pathological changes through the observation of the body surface of the corpse, the naked eye of the internal organs and the morphological examination of the microscope, and combine the clinical manifestations of the deceased before his death, laboratory examinations, and diagnosis and treatment processes, etc. The examination method to clarify the nature of the disease and the cause of death is a basic research method of pathology [4]. The actual operation of autopsy can also give students the opportunity to fully understand the human body and deepen the understanding of the relationship between the morphological structure and direction of each organ [5].…”