Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review
Introduction: The identification of professional liability profiles related to the development of pressure injuries is a very thorny issue from a medico-legal perspective. This is because no matter how strict the applied prevention protocols applied may be, the development of such injuries is largel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/8/1426 |
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| author | Filippo Gibelli Paolo Bailo Ascanio Sirignano Giovanna Ricci |
| author_facet | Filippo Gibelli Paolo Bailo Ascanio Sirignano Giovanna Ricci |
| author_sort | Filippo Gibelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The identification of professional liability profiles related to the development of pressure injuries is a very thorny issue from a medico-legal perspective. This is because no matter how strict the applied prevention protocols applied may be, the development of such injuries is largely dependent on endogenous factors. This paper aims to investigate the medico-legal issues related to this topic through the exposition of one case of medico-legal litigation and a traditional review of the literature. Methods: We performed a literature search using three databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and Web Of Science), restricting the search to the period between 2001 and 2021. We used “pressure ulcers” and “jurisprudence” as the main keywords. From an initial library of 236 articles, our selection resulted in 12 articles, which were included in the review. Results: We identified the ever-increasing expectations of patients and the concept of automatic attribution of responsibility when a pressure ulcer develops as the primary reasons for the increase in litigation over the past 20 years. The related corrective measures are numerous: a strict adherence to guidelines, an adequate documentation of preventive measures, a risk assessment, family involvement, and a successful collaboration between physicians and government institutions. Conclusions: The biological complexity of the pathogenetic development of pressure ulcers makes the subject very delicate from the medico-legal point of view. In principle, it is possible to state that a very large proportion of such injuries are preventable, but that there remains a percentage of them that cannot be prevented. In such cases, only a proper documentary demonstration of the adequacy of preventive measures can exclude liability profiles. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:23:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5d961f16bb54075bba3cf266cbbfe1b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:23:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5d961f16bb54075bba3cf266cbbfe1b2023-12-03T13:44:11ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-07-01108142610.3390/healthcare10081426Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature ReviewFilippo Gibelli0Paolo Bailo1Ascanio Sirignano2Giovanna Ricci3Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, ItalySection of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, ItalyIntroduction: The identification of professional liability profiles related to the development of pressure injuries is a very thorny issue from a medico-legal perspective. This is because no matter how strict the applied prevention protocols applied may be, the development of such injuries is largely dependent on endogenous factors. This paper aims to investigate the medico-legal issues related to this topic through the exposition of one case of medico-legal litigation and a traditional review of the literature. Methods: We performed a literature search using three databases (Pubmed, Scopus, and Web Of Science), restricting the search to the period between 2001 and 2021. We used “pressure ulcers” and “jurisprudence” as the main keywords. From an initial library of 236 articles, our selection resulted in 12 articles, which were included in the review. Results: We identified the ever-increasing expectations of patients and the concept of automatic attribution of responsibility when a pressure ulcer develops as the primary reasons for the increase in litigation over the past 20 years. The related corrective measures are numerous: a strict adherence to guidelines, an adequate documentation of preventive measures, a risk assessment, family involvement, and a successful collaboration between physicians and government institutions. Conclusions: The biological complexity of the pathogenetic development of pressure ulcers makes the subject very delicate from the medico-legal point of view. In principle, it is possible to state that a very large proportion of such injuries are preventable, but that there remains a percentage of them that cannot be prevented. In such cases, only a proper documentary demonstration of the adequacy of preventive measures can exclude liability profiles.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/8/1426pressure ulcersbedsoresmedical liability |
| spellingShingle | Filippo Gibelli Paolo Bailo Ascanio Sirignano Giovanna Ricci Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review Healthcare pressure ulcers bedsores medical liability |
| title | Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_full | Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_short | Pressure Ulcers from the Medico-Legal Perspective: A Case Report and Literature Review |
| title_sort | pressure ulcers from the medico legal perspective a case report and literature review |
| topic | pressure ulcers bedsores medical liability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/8/1426 |
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