Medical malpractice, defensive medicine and role of the “media” in Italy

Domenico M. Toraldo; Ughetta Vergari; Marta Toraldo

doi:10.4081/mrm.2015.285

Medical malpractice, defensive medicine and role of the “media” in Italy

Authors

Domenico M. Toraldo Department of Rehabilitation, Respiratory Care Unit, San Cesario di Lecce, Local Health Unit, Lecce, Italy; Center for Bioethics and Human Rights, University of the Salento, Lecce, Italy
Ughetta Vergari 3Department of Humanities, Political Philosophy, Degree course in Political Science and International Relations, University of the Salento, Lecce, Italy.
Marta Toraldo Department of Philosophy, University of the Salento, Lecce, Italy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/mrm.2015.285

Keywords:

Clinical ethics, Defensive medicine, Malpractice, Medical error

Abstract

Background: For many years until now, Italy has been subjected to an inconsistent and contradictory media campaign. On one hand the “media” present us with bold and reassuring messages about the progress of medical science; on the other hand they are prone to kneejerk criticism every time medical treatment does not have the desired effect, routinely describing such cases as glaring examples of “malasanità”, an Italian word of recent coinage used to denote medical malpractice. Newspaper reports of legal proceedings involving health treatment are frequently full of errors and lack any scientific basis.

Data sources: The published data confirm the unsustainably high number of lawsuits against doctors and medical structures, accompanied by demands for compensation arising from true or alleged medical errors or mistakes blamed on the work of health structures.

Conclusions and implications: Currently Italian citizens have a greater awareness of their right to health than in the past, and patients’ expectations have risen. A discrepancy is emerging between the current state of medical science and the capacities of individual doctors and health structures. Lastly, there is a need for greater monitoring of the quality of health care services and a greater emphasis on health risk prevention.