Importance of Medico-legal Services for Medical Negligence Cases
Online, December 30, 2013 (Newswire.com) - IMPORTANCE OF MEDICO-LEGAL SERVICES FOR MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE CASES
Many physicians are unaware about the complex laws, policies and regulations that pertain to their practices and healthcare today. Every physician, at any time during his practice will definitely come across certain Medico-Legal cases at one time or the other. However, they are hesitant in dealing with such legal tangles as they feel that Medico-legal cases means entangling in police cases and spending indefinite hours in the court. Due to this fear-factor, they try to avoid such cases or manipulate them as non-medico-legal case. In medical practice, ignorance of law is not an excuse. A good working knowledge of the law coupled with a methodical understanding of such cases helps one to build confidence over riding the fear of Medico-legal cases. Hence, it is necessary for the hospitals to work hand in hand with the law to help the patients in distress. An efficient Medico-legal service helps you to reduce the risk and maintain compliance.
What is a Medico-legal Case?
A Medico-legal case can be defined as a case of ailment or injury in which investigations by the law-enforcing agencies are important to fix the responsibility regarding the cause of the said ailment or injury. To put it in simple words, a medico-legal case is a medical case with legal implications for the attending physician where the attending physician feels that some investigation by law enforcement agencies is necessary. Also legal cases brought to the hospital by the police for examination which requires medical expertise can be treated as a Medico-legal case. Hence a medico legal case involves both legal and medical aspects that include medical negligence, autopsy, fingerprints, forensic science etc.
The following cases fall under the medico-legal category and it is the duty of the attending physician to intimate the police:-
o Cases of poisoning
o Cases of Unnatural death
o Accident cases
o Suspected or evident criminal abortion
o Cases of burns or trauma
o Cases of sexual offences or rape
o Cases of electrocution
o Cases sent by the court or brought by the police for medical examination
o Cases of strangulation, drowning, hanging and suffocation etc.
Importance of Medico-legal services
Medico legal services have never been the centre stage in the field of medicine and often assumed to be about medical negligence or medical malpractice. However most cases involve a personal injury claim where an individual sues a company or another individual on the grounds of personal injury. Today, there has been a drastic increase in such type of claims and the demand for medico legal experts is on the rise. Medico legal services serve as a liaison between the healthcare practitioners and the legal professionals.
The Medico Legal team at times directly deal with the claimants as they have undergone rigorous training to ensure that they are suitably qualified to act as medico legal experts. Your job is made easier with these cost-effective professionals who have in-depth knowledge of medical and health-related issues. Medico legal Services also offer comprehensive, cost-effective solutions to all your medical issues facing attorneys and insurance agencies.