ETHICS AND MEDICAL LIABILITY : A MINEFIELD FOR PHYSICIANS?

Abstract

Society has become more emancipated and far more demanding. The same applies to patients. The media is confronting physicians with this trend every day. Telling proof of this tendency is the growing number of damage claims. This creates the impression that physicians and others rendering assistance and care to patients are treading in a minefield while practising their profession. It seems as if they must tie themselves in numerous knots in order to respect their professional ethical code and all relevant legislation. Is this a correct impression? Can one speak of a medical ‘malaise’? Is the liability of a physician immediately at stake when a treatment or surgery causes damage to a patient or won’t it come to that in such a hurry?