Özet
Amaç. Hekimlerin mesleki uygulamaları sırasında meydana gelen tıbbi uygulama hataları ile ilgili özel bir düzenleme ülkemizde henüz yürürlükte bulunmamaktadır. 5237 Sayılı yeni Türk Ceza Kanunu hekimlerin tıbbi uygulama hatalarından dolayı sorumluluklarını tanımlayan özel kavramları içinde barındırmaktadır. Türk Ceza Kanunu'nda ki "Bilinçli taksir" ve "olası kast" gibi yeni kavramlar tıp mesleği bağlamında belirsizliklere yol açmakta ve hekimlerin bu konuda kaygı hissetmelerine neden olmaktadır. Bu çalışmada hekimlerin tıbbi uygulama hataları ile ilgili bilgi ve tutumlarını, konu ile ilgili olarak ülkemizde yargı sisteminde yürürlükte olan düzenlemeler hakkındaki bilgi düzeylerini ve mesleki mali sorumluluk sigortası hakkındaki tutumlarını tespit etmeyi amaçladık. Yöntem. Tokat İl merkezinde hizmet veren Üniversite Uygulama ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Devlet Hastaneleri ve Sağlık Ocaklarında çalışan 540 hekimden tabakalı örneklemle 135 (% 25) hekim çalışmaya davet edilmiştir. Örneklemin % 92,6'sına ulaşılarak aktif görevde bulunan ve gönüllü olarak anketi cevaplamayı kabul eden 125 hekime tıbbi uygulama hataları ile ilgili yasal düzenlenmeler ve mesleki mali sorumluluk sigortası hakkında bilgi ve tutum değerlendirmeyi amaçlayan 21 soruluk bir anket uygulanmıştır. Bulgular. Çalışmaya katılan 125 hekimin %68,8'i erkek, %31,2'i kadın ve mesleki deneyim süresi 9,5±6,8 yıl olarak tespit edilmiştir. Katılımcıların %49,6'sı uzman hekim, %30,4'ü asistan hekim ve %20'si pratisyen hekim olarak hizmet vermekteydi. Araştırmaya katılan hekimlerin %60'ı tıbbi uygulama hataları ile ilgili mevcut yasal düzenlemeler hakkında yeterli bilgilerinin olmadığını ifade etmişlerdir. Tıbbi uygulama hatalarının en sık nedeni %26,9 ile "Tıp eğitiminde yetersizlik" olarak ifade edilmiştir. Başkasının tıbbi uygulama hatalarını "hiç kimseye söylemem" diyenlerin oranı %5,2 iken, kendi yaptığı tıbbi uygulama hatalarını "hiç kimseye söylemem" diyenlerin oranı %14 olarak bulunmuştur. Tıbbi uygulama hatalarına karşılık mesleki mali sorumluluk sigortası olmayan hekim oranı %98,3 oranında bulunurken, katılımcıların %43,7'si tıbbi uygulama hatalarına yönelik mesleki mali sorumluluk sigortasının hekimleri koruyacağına inanmaktadır. Sonuç. Tıbbi uygulama hataları konusunda tıp eğitimi sürecinde ve mezuniyet sonrası eğitim programları ile hekimlerin bilgilendirilmesi konu hakkındaki farkındalığın artmasını ve yaşanacak muhtemel sorunların azalmasını sağlayacaktır.
Anahtar sözcükler: Tıbbi uygulama hatası, mesleki mali sorumluluk sigortası, hekim, ceza kanunu.
Abstract
Aim. There are not any specific regulations on malpractice among physicians in Turkey. The new Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237 involves specific terms defining physicians' liabilities regarding malpractice. New terms in Turkish Criminal Code such as "probable negligence" and "deliberate negligence" bring about uncertainties in medical practice and cause physicians to feel anxious about it. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge of malpractice and current regulations for malpractice in Turkey and attitudes towards malpractice and professional liability insurance among physicians in Tokat, Turkey. Methods. Using stratified sampling, we invited 135 out of 540 physicians (25%) working at the university hospital, government hospitals and primary health care centers in Tokat. 92.6% of the sample was contacted and informed consent was obtained from 125 physicians. Data were collected with a questionnaire composed of 21 questions about knowledge of and attitudes towards regulations for medical malpractice and professional liability insurance. Results. Out of 125 physicians, 68,8% were male and 31,2% were female and the mean duration of occupational experience was 9,5±6,8 years. Forty-nine point six percent of the participants were specialist, 30,4% were research assistant and 20% were general practitioner. Sixty percent of the physicians did not have sufficient knowledge of current regulations on malpractice. The most frequent cause of malpractice was low quality medical education (26,9%). Five point two percent of the physicians noted that they would keep other physicians' malpractice secret and 14% noted that they would keep their own malpractice secret. The rate of the participants who did not have professional liability insurance was 98,3%. However, 43,7% of the participants believed that professional liability insurance would protect physicians regarding medical malpractice. Conclusion. Medical curricula and in-service training programs should offer knowledge of malpractice and increase awareness of malpractice among physicians to avoid potential malpractice cases.
Keywords: Medical malpractice, professional liability insurance, physician, criminal code
Aim. There are not any specific regulations on malpractice among physicians in Turkey. The new Turkish Criminal Code No. 5237 involves specific terms defining physicians’ liabilities regarding malpractice. New terms in Turkish Criminal Code such as “probable negligence” and “deliberate negligence” bring about uncertainties in medical practice and cause physicians to feel anxious about it. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge of malpractice and current regulations for malpractice in Turkey and attitudes towards malpractice and professional liability insurance among physicians in Tokat, Turkey. Methods. Using stratified sampling, we invited 135 out of 540 physicians (25%) working at the university hospital, government hospitals and primary health care centers in Tokat. 92.6% of the sample was contacted and informed consent was obtained from 125 physicians. Data were collected with a questionnaire composed of 21 questions about knowledge of and attitudes towards regulations for medical malpractice and professional liability insurance. Results. Out of 125 physicians, 68,8% were male and 31,2% were female and the mean duration of occupational experience was 9,5±6,8 years. Forty-nine point six percent of the participants were specialist, 30,4% were research assistant and 20% were general practitioner. Sixty percent of the physicians did not have sufficient knowledge of current regulations on malpractice. The most frequent cause of malpractice was low quality medical education (26,9%). Five point two percent of the physicians noted that they would keep other physicians’ malpractice secret and 14% noted that they would keep their own malpractice secret. The rate of the participants who did not have professional liability insurance was 98,3%. However, 43,7% of the participants believed that professional liability insurance would protect physicians regarding medical malpractice. Conclusion. Medical curricula and in-service training programs should offer knowledge of malpractice and increase awareness of malpractice among physicians to avoid potential malpractice cases.
Primary Language | English |
---|---|
Journal Section | Medical Science Research Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | November 24, 2009 |
Published in Issue | Year 2009Volume: 31 Issue: 4 |