Medical Malpractice Flashcards
Failure of a physician to
properly perform the duty which devolves upon him in his professional relation to
his patient which results to injury
Medical malpractice
Bad or unskillful practice of medicine resulting to injury of the patient or failure on the part of the physician
Medical malpractice
2 Elements of Medical malpractice
- Failed to perform his duty
2. Injury was sustained
that cause, which, in natural continuous sequence, unbroken by an
efficient intervening cause,
PROXIMATE CAUSE
Elements of proximate cause
- Direct connection between the injury and the fault of the physician
- The cause or the wrongful act of the physician must be efficient
- The result must be the natural continuous and probable consequence.
In the causal connection (between the negligence of the physician and the injury sustained by the patient), there may be an ______ which is the proximate cause of the injury.
Doctrine of Efficient Intervening Cause
means the responsibility of a person, (who is not negligent) , for the wrongful conduct or negligence of another
Doctrine of Imputed Negligence
3 Under Doctrine of Vicarious Liability
- Ostensible Agent Doctrine
- Borrowed Servant Doctrine
- Captain of the Ship Doctrine
Under Doctrine Res Ipsa Loquitor
- Doctrine of Common Knowledge
means the responsibility of a person, who is not negligent, for the wrongful conduct or negligence of another
Vicarious liability
3 people involve in the doctrine of vicarious liability
- Injured patient
- Person who injured the patient
- Person who may be held financially liable to the patient
Article stating the Obligation is demandable not only for one’s own acts or omission but also for those persons whom one is responsible
Art. 2180, Civil Code of the Philippines
Employers shall be liable for the damages caused by their employees and household helpers acting within the scope of their assigned task, even though the former are not engaged in any
business or industry…
Art. 2180, Civil Code of the Philippines
Exceptions to the Article 2180 code (Employer shall be held liable for the damage caused by employees)
when the employer proves that he/she
observes all the diligence of a good father of a family to prevent injury.
In cases wherein the employees are at the same time independent contractors of the hospital
DOCTRINE OF OSTENSIBLE AGENT
Who can be held liable for their negligent acts under the doctrine of ostensible agent?
- Pathologist
- Radiologist
- Anesthesiologist
Ordinarily, resident physicians, nurses and
other personnel of the hospital are employees or servants of the hospital
BORROWED SERVANT DOCTRINE
Under the II. BORROWED SERVANT DOCTRINE nurses, resident and physician are deemed ____
borrowed from the hospital
Who is held liable under the borrowed servant doctrine?
Employer
The doctrine enunciates liability of the surgeon not only
for the wrongful acts of those who are under his physical control but also those wherein
he has extension of control.
CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP DOCTRINE
REASONS FOR APPLICATION OF THE DOCTRINE
OF VICARIOUS LIABILITY
- Employer has deep pockets
- Employer has power to select his employee
- Employer to bear the risk of loss
- ## Employer has to treat operating expenseBasically employer is rich and has total control hence he is liable
(“The thing speaks for itself ”) the nature of the wrongful act or injury is suggestive of negligence
DOCTRINE OF RES IPSA LOQUITOR
Res Ipsa Loquitor (exception):
not needing an expert evidence because the proof of injury due to negligence is obvious
(expert testimony is necessary to prove that a physician has done a negligent act) or that has deviated from the
standard of medical practice
DOCTRINE OF RES IPSA LOQUITOR
3 Requisite of RES IPSA LOQUITOR
- The Accident must be something that cannot happen without negligence
- It must be caused by something exclusively in the control of the defendant
- It must not be of voluntary action
_______________________________
Basically if something that the accident is within the control of the doctor but he fucked it up and doesnt mean to do it
Example of Res Ipsa Loquitor
Objects left in the patient’s body at the
time during operation
When does Res Ipsa Loquitor not apply
- Treatment does involve hazard
- Bad result rule
- Honest error of judgement
- Diagnostic mistake
_________________________
Basically when it is an honest mistake or not within the control of the practitioner or part of the procedure
It has been defined as conduct on the part of the plaintiff or injured party, (contributing as a legal cause) to the harm he has suffered
DOCTRINE OF CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
It is the act or omission amounting to want of care on the part of the complaining party which, concurring with the defendant’s negligence, is the proximate cause of the injury.
DOCTRINE OF CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
Act stating that “When the plaintiff’s own negligence was the immediate and proximate cause of his injury, he cannot recover damages. But if his negligence was
only contributory , the immediate and proximate cause of injury being the defendant’s lack of due care, the plaintiff may recover damages , but the court may mitigate the damages to be awarded.”
Art. 2179, Civil Code