A senior medical officer and lawyer, Dr Edward Addo Dankwa, says there should be a minimum standard for determining medical negligence.
According to him, healthcare is a human institution where outcomes can vary, and not all adverse outcomes are due to medical negligence.
He stated that a minimum standard is necessary to assess whether a negative outcome was caused by staff failing to meet or falling below established standards.
Speaking on JoyNews' The Law, Mr Dankwa said, “Sometimes we have good outcomes and other times we have bad outcomes; it is natural. Not all bad outcomes are the result of medical negligence. Therefore, there should be a minimum standard to determine whether a particular adverse outcome was due to staff failing to meet or falling below the necessary standards.”
He stated that if a shortcoming directly causes harm to a patient or even results in death, the patient can be compensated if death has not occurred.
He however called on health professionals to prioritise thorough documentation and patient care to prevent legal challenges.
He highlighted the increasing number of medical negligence lawsuits being filed against healthcare providers and urged his colleagues to take proactive measures to safeguard themselves.
Read Also: Treat patients well, document appropriately to prevent legal suit – Senior Medical practitioner
Latest Stories
-
Second wave of Lebanon device explosions kills 20 and wounds 450
52 mins -
X says its return in Brazil after ban ‘inadvertant’
1 hour -
Harvey Weinstein pleads not guilty to new sex crime charge
3 hours -
US goes big with first interest rate cut in four years
4 hours -
What to know about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ indictment
4 hours -
Demi Moore is over being perfect in new ‘risky and juicy’ horror role
4 hours -
I’ll give you accessible and quality leadership – Prof Titus assures Lambusie constituency
4 hours -
UCL: Gazzaniga howler sees Girona lose to PSG
4 hours -
No holds barred in new film on Prince Andrew scandal
4 hours -
UCL: Dortmund start new campaign with 03 win over Club Brugge
4 hours -
UCL: Man City, Inter play out goalless draw at Etihad
4 hours -
Tunisian court sentences presidential candidate Zammel to 20 months in prison
4 hours -
Ghana’s economy surges 6.9% in Q2 2024, fastest in five years
5 hours -
Major US labour union declines to endorse either Harris or Trump
5 hours -
Nigeria flags flood risk in 11 states as Cameroon releases dam water
5 hours