Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107677

George J. Annas, JD, MPH, Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, 617 638 4626, annasgj@bu.edu

Medical malpractice is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and major efforts are currently underway to attempt to make hospitals safer environments for patients. Public reporting of medical errors has been opposed by providers worried about increased liability to the deceased or injured patient. There is no evidence, however, to support the proposition that public (or direct to patient) reporting of errors increases liability, nor is there any moral or ethical justification for concealing errors from either the injured patient or the public. Malpractice "reform" in the form of financial caps on the awards of injured patients who have proven their negligence claims in court are inherently unfair and create perverse incentives. The primary goal must be to improve patient safety. To protect patients and identify and re-educate negligent or deficient physicians, information about medical errors should be routinely made available to the public, including the identification of both the hospital and physicians involved in the incident. How such a public reporting system might work, and the role of public health agencies and boards of registration in medicine will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize gaps in current evidence on impact of malpractice litigation on patient safety;
• Describe constructive role litigation could play in promoting patient safety;
• Evaluate an evidence-based litigation project to promote patient safety.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, Hospitals

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.