Could no-fault compensation for medical errors improve care and reduce costs?

Anthony Howard; Tony McWilliams; Gary Hannant; Noman Saghir; Peter Giannoudis; Julian Scott

doi:10.12968/hmed.2019.80.7.387

Could no-fault compensation for medical errors improve care and reduce costs?

Br J Hosp Med (Lond). 2019 Jul 2;80(7):387-390. doi: 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.7.387.

Authors

Anthony Howard¹, Tony McWilliams², Gary Hannant³, Noman Saghir⁴, Peter Giannoudis⁵, Julian Scott⁶

Affiliations

¹ NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Trauma and Orthopaedics, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, School of Medicine, Leeds University, Leeds LS2 9JT.
² Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley.
³ Foot and Ankle Fellow, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust, Crewe.
⁴ Core Trainee, Department of Plastic Surgery, The Mid Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust, Wakefield.
⁵ Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, School of Medicine, Leeds University, Leeds.
⁶ Professor of Vascular Surgery, Leeds Vascular Institute, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds.

PMID: 31283388
DOI: 10.12968/hmed.2019.80.7.387

Abstract

The costs of litigation are large and increasing, to a level that places a drain on precious health-care resources and affects the way medicine is practised. This article examines whether a change to a no-fault legal system would lead to reduced costs and improved patient care.

MeSH terms

Humans
Liability, Legal / economics
Malpractice / economics*
Malpractice / legislation & jurisprudence*
Medical Errors / economics*
Medical Errors / legislation & jurisprudence*
Orthopedic Procedures / economics
Quality Improvement / organization & administration
State Medicine / economics
State Medicine / legislation & jurisprudence
United Kingdom
Wounds and Injuries / economics