Expatriate doctors, medical litigations, and overall patient care: Taif study

Abstract

Objective: In Saudi Arabia expatriates physicians involved in malpractice litigation process (MLP) risk travel ban, creating immeasurable stress as these procedures are quite lengthy with no insurance company or employer support. A survey study conducted in the city of Taif aimed to demonstrate the outcome of ongoing MLP on overall patient care. Methods: Various grades doctors of both sexes, from different surgical and medical specialties in Ministry of Health Hospitals, Taif city, were surveyed, including mental, pediatric, King Faisal and King Abdul Aziz Specialist Hospitals. The study was conducted between January 25, and May 3, 2015. Saudi nationals and paramedics were excluded from the study. Multichoice questions with space for suggestions were distributed and collected manually. It is a qualitative and cross-section study. Results: A total of 277 responded to the survey, 127/277, (45.84%) were involved in MLP of whom 97/127 (76.4%) were banned from travel. While in Linkert's scale, 96/277 (34.65%) were satisfied with the role of insurance company, 114/127 (89.8%) had little or no support from their employer during MLP, and 218/277 (96.03%) agreed that overall patient medical care will have a negative impact due to the ongoing MLP (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We believe the ongoing MLP is a fertile ground for developing defensive medicine culture. A stress-free environment strategy governed by support and legal protection by employer and insurance company respectively is suggested.