MEDICAL ERRORS: PATIENTS’ OPINION, LAWYERS’ STANDPOINT, MEDICAL DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

Introduction: The problem of medical errors is always relevant in medical literature and law. Meanwhile, it is understood diametrically opposite by doctors, patients, and lawyers. This has a negative impact on patients' trust in medical professionals, and sometimes leads to criminal prosecution for a so-called "medical error", which in fact is conscientious deception, not a crime, and should exclude criminal liability. The aim: The aim of this work is the illustration of diametrically opposed approaches to understanding the essence of the concept of "medical error" from patients', doctors', and lawyers' views that are often generated by subjective approaches and results in distrust between doctors and patients, medical professionals and lawyers. The aim of the article is also to realize the ECHR's approach to understanding the essence of a medical error and distinguishing it from the negligence that should lead to liability of the medical professionals. Materials and methods: In this research a legal doctrine, scientific works, provisions of international legal acts, in particular, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms were used, as well as the practice of the ECHR (12 relevant ECHR decisions), where the Court considered cases related to "medical errors" and formulated positive obligations of the state in the field of health care were analyzed. A complex set of general and special methods of cognition was used to achieve the aim, they are comparative legal method, systemic and structural method, methods of generalization, analysis and synthesis, sociological method, hermeneutical method, etc. Results: A survey of patients, medical professionals and lawyers conducted by the authors (300 persons), analysis of doctrinal approaches are illustrated the gap between the doctrinal approaches existing in the understanding of the essence of the "medical error" phenomenon and the perceptions of the medical services recipients, which indicates the need of understanding the essence of the phenomenon of medical error in order to increase the confidence in the medical profession, the inadmissibility of doctors liability for a medical error. Conclusions: The research gave the authors a reason to conclude that both medical and legal sciences are still far from the unity of views on the concept of "medical error". Medical errors significantly affect the authority of a medical institution, a particular doctor, or the state as a whole, and have severe consequences for patients. An analysis of the medical literature and ECHR practices has led to the conclusion that a medical error occurs when it is possible to completely exclude the guilt of medical professionals in the form of intent or negligence. In case of a medical error the criminal liability of the doctor is excluded.