ABSTRACT
Background: Medical malpractice is professional negligence by a healthcare provider in which the treatment provided falls below the standard and causes injury or death to the patient. Objective: To describe the adverse medical events; claims and decisions taken by the Ethiopian Health professionals Ethics Committee at the Federal level. Methods: A three-year report of the Ethics Committee and relevant documents of proclamations and regulations were reviewed. Results: Between January 2011 and December 2013; the committee reviewed 60 complaints against health professionals. About one third of the complaints were filed by the patients and/or their families; about 32 by the police or court and the rest were filed by Addis Ababa health bureau; health professionals and other unrelate4d observers. Thirty-nine complaints were related to death of the patient and 15 complaints were about disability. Twenty-five of the claims were against Obstetric and Gynecology specialists and 9 were against general surgeons. The committee verified that 14 of the 60 claims had ethical breach and/or negligence (incompetence). The committee took reasonable time to review complaints and respond the concerned authorities. Conclusion: The study showed that of the total claims lower than a quarter (23.3) were proven beyond the benefit of doubt. More than 3/4 (76.7) of the complaints were wrong. Hospitals should lead in preventing patient injury. Creation of more awareness among Obstetrics and Gynecology specialists; General and Orthopaedic Surgeons about medical errors is needed and special training should be given to those joining these specialities
Subject(s)
Ethics , Health Personnel , Malpractice , ReviewABSTRACT
Introduction:Malaria causes an overwhelmingly large number of cases and deaths round the globe every year.Insecticide treated nets (ITNs) have become important tools that provide a simple; but effective means of preventing malaria in highly endemic areas. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was used to investigate possession; utilization; and factors affecting possession and utilization of ITNs in Arbaminch Town and the malarious villages of Arbaminch Zuria District; southern Ethiopia from 22nd January to 1st February 2007 on a sample of 454 households. Data were collected using structured; pretested; interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was performed using SPSS 11.0 for windows. Univariate; bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Results: The coverage for any net and ITN was 75.1and 58.8respectively; the utilization rate for any net and ITN by any member of the household the night prior to the study was 71and 73respectively. Both coverage and utilization were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. The proportion of pregnant women and children under five years who slept under ITNs the night preceding the study was 35and 40.3respectively. Education and income of head of households; place of residence of households and presence of high risk groups in the household were found to be predictors of net possession. Sex and income of head of households; and presence of radio in the households were predictors of utilization of nets by any household member. Education of head of households and place of residence of households were predictors of utilization of nets by high risk groups. Conclusions: A wide gap exists between coverage and utilization of ITNs. Use of ITNs by high risk groups is far below the Abuja target. Appropriate BCC interventions are required to narrow the gap between coverage and utilization of ITNs and to escalate use of ITNs by high-risk groups