The Impact of Social Media on Public Perception and Litigation in Hernia Surgery Complications: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Public Perception and Litigation in Hernia Surgery Complications. Introduction: Social media significantly impacts public perception of healthcare, leading to increased litigation for complications after hernia surgery. Our research focused on terms like ‘inguinal hernia repair,’ ‘medico-legal,’ ‘informed consent,’ ‘litigation,’ ‘malpractice,’ ‘social media’, ‘mesh’, ‘Leistenbruch’, and OLG in Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Google. Results showed chronic postoperative pain as a common cause of malpractice claims, with ultrasound being a valuable diagnostic tool. Urological injuries account for a significant portion of complications after surgery. Mesh infection leads to hospital readmission, increased healthcare costs, and lawsuits. The quality of the consent process is crucial, and patient perceptions of mesh use influence their decision-making. Healthcare professionals must understand the impact of social media on public perception and provide comprehensive patient information for informed consent and satisfaction.