Juicios de daños y aporte de los tribunales chilenos ante los desafíos ético-ambientales que impone el cambio climático / Litigation for damages and contribution of the Chilean courts to the ethical-environmental challenges posed by climate change / Julgamento de danos e contribuições dos tribunais chilenos diante dos desafios ético-ambientais trazidos pela mudança climática

Este artículo muestra que la experiencia acumulada por la Corte Suprema chilena en juicios sobre responsabilidad civil y ambiental, debiera permitirle abordar los problemas ético-ambientales y jurídicos que el calentamiento global implica, sea previniendo daños mediante la imposición a los principales emisores de gases de efecto invernadero, incluido el Estado, del deber de reducir acelerada y significativamente las emisiones, sea exigiendo y haciendo cumplir la obligación de adaptación al cambio climático mediante la atribución de responsabilidad extracontractual o ambiental.

This article shows that the experience accrued by the Chilean Supreme Court in lawsuits on tort and environmental liability, should allow it to address the ethical-environmental and legal issues that global warming implies, either by preventing harm through the imposition on the major emitters of greenhouse gases, including the State, of the duty to reduce emissions rapidly and significantly, or by demanding and enforcing the obligation to adapt to climate change through the attribution of tort liability or environmental liability.

Esse artigo mostra que a experiência acumulada pela Corte Suprema chilena em julgamentos sobre responsabilidade civil e ambiental, deveria permitir-lhe abordar os problemas ético-ambientais e jurídicos que o aquecimento global implica, seja prevenindo danos mediante a imposição aos principais emissores de gases de efeito estufa, incluindo o Estado, do dever de reduzir acelerada e significativamente as emissões, seja exigindo e fazendo cumprir a obrigação de adaptação à mudança climática mediante a atribuição de responsabilidade extracontratual ou ambiental.

Analysis on Legal Relationship Based on a Typical Case of Medical Device Clinical Trial / 中国医学伦理学

Guaranteeing the rights and safety of subjects is an important responsibility of all participants in the medical devices clinical trial, including medical institutions, sponsors and researchers. The legal disputes caused by serious adverse events in the clinical trial of medical devices are characterized by complex legal relationships, great difficulty in handling, and many points of dispute. Based on a typical case of medical device clinical trials, this paper discussed the litigation subject qualification, the treatment of contract breach and tort in medical device clinical trial, analyzed the responsibility of different subjects, and provided constructive suggestions on the risk management of medical device clinical trial.

Cartas de Balmis a Gutiérrez: la fractura de la amistad entre dos expedicionarios de la vacuna / Letters from Balmis to Gutiérrez: fracture of the friendship between two vaccine expeditionary personages

Resumen En estos tiempos de pandemia, la Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna (1803-1813) cobra vigencia por la amplitud de su dimensión geográfica y por su carácter de expedición sanitaria inspirada en un objetivo de salud pública pionero en su época: propagar la recién descubierta vacuna contra la viruela. Acometida por un reducido número de expedicionarios, fue dirigida por Francisco Xavier Balmis, a quien acompañaba, entre otros, Antonio Gutiérrez Robredo, su discípulo predilecto. Esta investigación, realizada con fuentes primarias, explora la relación entre ambos, la cual pasó de la mutua confianza a la enemistad debido a un conflicto nimio. El estudio de la correspondencia previa y la tardía resolución del pleito interpuesto por Balmis contra Gutiérrez permite ahondar en sus perfiles biográficos. Como consecuencia directa de aquel litigio, Gutiérrez nunca retornó a España, aunque llegó a ser catedrático en México; por el contrario, Balmis disfrutó honores y reconocimientos en Madrid.

Abstract The Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition (1803-1813) becomes relevant in these pandemic times due to the breadth of its geographical dimension and its nature of a health expedition inspired by a pioneering public health objective of its time: to spread the newly discovered vaccine against smallpox. Undertaken by a small number of participants, the expedition was directed by Francisco Xavier Balmis, who was accompanied, among others, by Antonio Gutiérrez Robredo, his favorite disciple. This research, carried out using primary sources, explores the relationship between both, which went from mutual trust to enmity due to a trivial conflict. The study of previous correspondence and late resolution of the lawsuit filed by Balmis against Gutiérrez allows us to delve into their biographical profiles. As a direct consequence of that litigation, Gutiérrez never went back to Spain, although he became a professor in Mexico; in contrast, Balmis enjoyed honors and recognition in Madrid.

The Role of Forensic Medicine in Responding to Emergencies and New Major Epidemics / 法医学杂志

In recent years, human beings are constantly facing the threat of emerging infectious diseases. Forensic technology plays a unique role in responding to the emergencies and new epidemics. In epidemic prevention and control, forensic partitioners can provide important clues for the identification of vector animal species and the traceability of pathogen regions based on non-human DNA testing technology. In epidemic-related judicial practice, forensic partitioners bear more and more evidence responsibilities in dealing with biosafety laws-related issues, such as improper handling of epidemics and vaccine safety issues, which require forensic evidence. In terms of pathogen tracing, forensic physical evidence examinations identify species and individuals through biological materials extracted from the scene of death and autopsy of infectious diseases, are expected to provide informative clues for epidemiological investigations and point out the direction for pathogen tracing. In addition, forensic pathological examination can provide an important pathophysiological basis for determining the cause of death and the mechanism of death through autopsy, also offer necessary scientific evidence for clarifying the epidemiological characteristics of the epidemic and predicting the development trend of the epidemic.

Entre justiça e gestão: colaboração interinstitucional na judicialização da saúde / Entre justicia y gestión: colaboración interinstitucional en la judicialización de la salud / Between justice and public management: interinstitutional collaboration in health litigation

Resumo O sistema de justiça faz mais do que apenas "controlar" a legalidade de políticas públicas e sua execução. O caso da judicialização da saúde no Brasil ilustra como juízes/as, advogados/as públicos/as e promotores/as se envolvem cada vez mais ativamente com a gestão da política de saúde. Esse envolvimento resulta na reorganização da gestão pública assumindo as ações judiciais ajuizadas contra a administração do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) como um "problema social" que merece respostas organizadas e coordenação interinstitucional. Este artigo descreve tais respostas com base em padrões de colaboração interinstitucional entre atores do sistema de justiça e profissionais da gestão da saúde em 4 estados brasileiros: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul. A partir de tipologia de McNamara (2012, 2016), o texto compara os diferentes graus de integração dessas respostas entre órgãos e traça o "perfil" colaborativo do estado em relação à judicialização da saúde.

Resumen El sistema de justicia hace más que simplemente "controlar" la legalidad de las políticas públicas y su implementación. El caso de la judicialización de la salud en Brasil ilustra cómo los jueces, los abogados públicos y los fiscales están cada vez más involucrados en la gestión de la política de salud. Esta participación resulta en la reorganización de la gestión pública. Las demandas presentadas contra la administración del Sistema Único de Salud se transforman en un "problema social" que merece respuestas organizadas y coordinación interinstitucional. Este artículo describe esas respuestas con base en estándares de colaboración interinstitucional entre actores del sistema de justicia y gestores de salud pública en cuatro estados brasileños: São Paulo, Río de Janeiro, Santa Catarina y Rio Grande do Sul. Operacionalizando la tipología de McNamara (2012, 2016) este estudio compara el grado de integración de las respuestas entre esos organismos y rastrea el "perfil" colaborativo de cada estado en relación con la judicialización de la salud.

Abstract The Brazilian justice system does more than simply review the legality of public policies and oversee their implementation. Looking at health litigation in Brazil reveals how judges, public lawyers, and prosecutors are increasingly involved in policy management, as they comprehend that the rising number of lawsuits seeking healthcare treatment requires management and inter-organizational coordination. This article explores this phenomenon by assessing initiatives of inter-institutional collaboration between actors in the justice and healthcare systems in four Brazilian states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. By operationalizing the typology developed by McNamara (2012, 2016), this study compares the levels of integration in these responses and traces the collaborative "profile" of each state's approach to dealing with health litigation.

Sobre la responsabilidad civil por cambio climático en Chile / Sobre a responsabilidade civil por mudança climática no Chile / On tort liability for climate change in Chile

Resumen: La comunidad científica coincide en que la emisión de gases de efecto invernadero genera calentamiento global y éste a su vez produce cambio climático. El cambio climático está y seguirá causando daños graves, incluso catastróficos, a la salud de las personas y al medioambiente. En este contexto, este artículo argumenta que la responsabilidad civil extracontractual puede contribuir en las tareas de mitigación y adaptación relacionadas con el daño que emana del cambio climático. Sin embargo, para lograr este objetivo, en futuros juicios indemnizatorios por cambio climático en Chile, los demandantes deberán proporcionar a los tribunales evidencia que demuestre la existencia de un nexo causal directo y necesario entre las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero —producidas por una o más personas naturales o jurídicas— y el daño concretamente sufrido por la víctima.

Resumo: A comunidade científica concorda que a emissão de gases de efeito estufa gera aquecimento global e este por sua vez produz mudança climática. A mudança climática está e seguirá causando danos graves, inclusive catastróficos, à saúde das pessoas e ao meio ambiente. Neste contexto, este artigo argumenta que a responsabilidade civil extracontratual pode contribuir nas tarefas de mitigação e adaptação relacionadas com o dano que emana da mudança climática. Sem dúvida, para alcançar este objetivo, em juízos indenizatórios futuros pela mudança climática no Chile, os demandantes deverão proporcionar aos tribunais evidência que demonstre a existência de um nexo causal direto e necessário entre as emissões de gases de efeito estufa - produzidos por uma ou mais pessoas físicas ou jurídicas - e o dano concretamente sofrido pela vítima.

Abstract: The scientific community agrees that the emission of greenhouse gases generates global warming which in turn produces climate change. Climate change is -and will continue- causing serious, even catastrophic harm to the people's health and the environment. In this context, this article argues that tort liability can make a contribution to the mitigation and adaptation efforts related to the harm arising from climate change. In order to achieve this aim in future tort litigation for climate change in Chile, however, the claimants will have to provide courts with evidence showing the existence of a direct and necessary causal link between the emissions of greenhouse gases -produced by one or more natural persons or legal entities- and the harm actually suffered by the victim.

When the ophthalmologists turn blind

The cost of technology is high in ophthalmology but given the increasingly competitive environment and the social demand, there is a pressure to progressively lower the costs to the consumer. To keep costs down there is a tendency to do as many surgeries as possible in an assembly line fashion both in hospitals as well as in the charitable camps. This article provides ophthalmologists an insight into the legal pitfalls in practice of ophthalmology in India and the dangers of the constant lowering of costs of surgery as well as of free service. This lowering of costs would have been ideal in a Utopian world, but times have now changed and there is cost to be paid even for providing free service. In India the prevalent tradition of providing free service, has also resulted in a lowering of guard by the eye surgeons. These mass eye surgery assembly popularly called “free eye camps” has seen millions of people benefited. But recently there is an increase in number of cases where exorbitant penalty has been imposed by the courts, on these philanthropic surgeons for any deficiency in service, and this has destroyed the careers of many ophthalmologists. Time has now come to introspect and to factor the cost of litigation and compensations into the cost of surgeries so that we not only benefit the patients but also safeguard the ophthalmologists and help them fulfill their responsibilities towards their own dependents.

Responsabilidad Médica en Chile: Fallos de la Corte Suprema de Justicia 2017 / Medical Malpractice in Chile: Rulings of the Supreme Court of Justice 2017

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los datos epidemiológicos y jurídicos de los casos por responsabilidad médica fallados por la Corte Suprema de Justicia chilena (CSJ) el año 2017, para relevar los escenarios de alto riesgo, aportando a su prevención. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, revisando los fallos de la CSJ en la base de datos electrónica del Poder Judicial chileno. Se seleccionaron y analizaron los fallos por responsabilidad médica. Se detectó un total de 61 casos por responsabilidad médica que alcanzaron la CSJ en 2017. Todos correspondieron a causas civiles. La duración promedio de los juicios fue 41,9 meses. La especialidad más demandada y condenada fue ginecología. La mayoría de las demandas y condenas afectó al Sistema Público de salud. Los casos que dan origen a las demandas son, en su mayoría, de atención de urgencias por sobre las programadas, y de tratamiento por sobre procedimientos quirúrgicos. El 54,8 % de los casos resultaron en la muerte del paciente. La mitad de los fallos condenatorios involucraba el fallecimiento del usuario afectado. Se deben investigar los factores de riesgo no sólo de la ocurrencia de mal-praxis, si no de la judicialización de los conflictos médico-paciente, especialmente en el área gineco-obstétrica, incluyendo los casos de instancias anteriores a la CSJ. Se debe investigar así mismo los factores de riesgo para la mayor propensión de los profesionales de sexo masculino de ser demandados y condenados por malpraxis médica.

ABSTRACT: The objective of the present study is to characterize the epidemiologic and juridical data for medical malpractice cases ruled by the Chilean Supreme Court (CSC) in 2017, to highlight the high risk scenarios, as a contribution to their prevention. A search of the CSC electronic database was conducted to identify and analyze CSC rulings for medical malpractice cases. In this study 61 malpractice cases ruled by CSC were identified. The CSC received only civil cases of medical malpractices during the studied period. The average duration of the trial was 41.9 months. Gynecologists faced suits and received sentences more frequently than any other type of specialist. The majority of prosecuted cases and convictions were associated with the public health system. A greater number of claims were related to emergency care than with scheduled procedures. Likewise, more claims were associated with non-surgical treatment than with surgical procedures. 54.8 % of all cases resulted in the patient's death. Half of the cases that lead to conviction, were related to the death of a patient. Risk factors should be investigated, not only of the occurrence of malpractice, but also of the judicial process of doctor-patient conflicts, especially in the obstetrics and gynecology area, including the analysis of cases of prior judicial instances. The risk factors for the higher propensity of male professionals to be prosecuted and convicted for medical malpractice should also be investigated.

A comparative analysis of the discrimination conclusions for medical litigation cases of a hospital / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective To compare the differences found between the proportion of responsibility between in-house experts of the hospital and that of judicial appraisals for 52 cases of medical disputes of a hospital in recent years.Methods A total of 52 cases of disputes were selected, which were evaluated by the in-house experts screening meeting at a tertiary hospital in Beijing from 2015 to 2018.According to the causes of these disputes, these cases were divided into seven categories, calculating respectively the mean value of the proportion of judicial appraisal responsibility and that of in-house experts for all cases of the same category.The paired t test was used to compare the consistency of the above two methods.Results The overall level of judicial appraisal responsibility(35.00% ) was significantly higher than the in-house expert screening(20.96% ).Among them, the cases of improper selection of treatment plan, improper operation of surgery or insufficient evaluation of surgical difficulty risk, and medical disputes caused by complications, the degree of responsibility of the judicial appraisal institutions was quite different from that of in-house experts of the hospital.Conclusions Because the judicial appraisal agencies have certain difficulties in the identification of complex medical technology problems, it is recommended to establish a library of judicial appraisal experts as soon as possible to encourage the experts to participate in the trial of disputes.

Professional Practice and Neurosurgery: What Every Neurosurgeon Should Know about Malpractice

Introduction The objective of the present study was to review the epidemiological aspects of malpractice in neurosurgery and to identify preventive measures regarding malpractice for neurosurgeons. Methods The following terms (alone or in combination) were searched in the PubMed and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde databases: neurosurgery (neurocirurgia), lawsuits (ações judiciais), malpractice (erro médico), and litigation (litígio) and identifying studies on these topics published from 2000 to April 2018. Literature Review In Brazil, 6.9% of the physicians are sued per year. The most common type of malpractice alleged in litigation is negligence. According to the literature, the neurosurgical disease that has sparked the most litigation is spinal disease. The outcomes of these cases vary: sometimes the neurosurgeon prevails, and at other times the plaintiff prevails. To prevent or reduce malpractice claims, the neurosurgeon should take the following precautions: 1. follow medical protocols; 2. perform surgeries in an environment consistent with good medical practice; 3. evaluate and monitor antibiotic prophylaxis; 4. develop a good relationship with the patient based on ethics, good faith and transparency; 5. request the presence of the patient and of his or her family when there is a problem in order to didactically explain the case; 6. keep good medical records to document all of the actions performed (informed consent and description of the surgery and of the pre and postoperative); 7. always seek technical improvement (continuing education/professional development); 8. in the case of attending physicians, monitor patients, treating any postoperative complications; and 9. conduct multidisciplinary team meetings to optimize treatment decisions and to share responsibility for making difficult decisions.

Acciones de wrongful conception en Chile: una propuesta de fundamentación / Wrongful conception claims in Chile: a proposal for their justification / Ações de wrongful conception no Chile: uma proposta de fundamentação

Resumen: En el presente artículo, los autores tratan el tópico de admisibilidad en Chile de las acciones de responsabilidad civil de wrongful conception o anticoncepciones fallidas. Utilizando referencias hacia la práctica en el derecho comparado y al derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, los autores argumentan a favor de fundamentar su reparación en el derecho a la autodeterminación reproductiva de las mujeres.

Abstract: In this article, the authors refer to the wrongful conception claims, particularly the controversy of their admission in Chile. On the basis of comparative and human rights international law, the authors argue in favor of the women's right to reproductive self-determination as the foundation of their compensation.

Resumo: Neste artigo, os autores abordam o tema da admissibilidade no Chile das ações de responsabilidade civil de wrongful conception ou anticoncepções fracassadas. Com base em referências para a prática no direito comparado e no direito internacional dos direitos humanos, os autores argumentam a favor de fundamente sua reparação o direito à autodeterminação reprodutiva das mulheres.

Smokeless tobacco control: Litigation & judicial measures from Southeast Asia

Recourse to litigation and positive judicial interventions is one of the most effective tools to meet public health objectives. The present review envisions compiling litigation and judicial measures in Southeast Asia Region (SEAR) while assessing their role in advancing smokeless tobacco (SLT) control, and equally highlighting, how tobacco industry has used litigation to undermine tobacco control efforts in the Region. The litigation, especially from the SEAR, up to 2017, that have facilitated SLT control or have been used by the tobacco industry to challenge an SLT control policy decision were reviewed. Most of the litigation related to SLT control from the Region are on pictorial health warnings. Bhutan has imposed a complete prohibition on sale, manufacture and import of all kinds of tobacco products and the litigation there relates to the prosecution of offenders for violating the ban. Judiciary in the Region is well informed about the ill-effects of tobacco use and remains positive to tobacco control initiatives in the interest of public health. In India, several SLT-specific litigation helped in better regulation of SLT products in the country. Litigation has compelled governments for effective enforcement of the domestic tobacco control laws and the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Parties to the WHO FCTC must now use Treaty Article 19 to strengthen their legal procedures and make the tobacco industry liable, for both criminal and civil wrongs.

The reform of legal system on the construction and reflection of the logic of actions of all parties in the medical litigation:An empirical study of 404 cases about 6 three-A hospitals in D city / 中国卫生政策研究

Taking the judicial reference information of 404 cases of medical litigation from the 6 three-A hospi-tals from 2009 to 2014 in D city as the sample,it was found that in the reform of the legal system represented by the implementation of the Tort Liability Act increased the number of medical tort litigations obviously;Decline in apprais-al rate,more summary procedure and mediation apply and its high success rate in claim for compensation, serious mediating tendency and decreased hospital's attention to medical litigation have conflicted with the authoritative,effi-cient,fair and reasonable goals that institutional changes are intended to achieve. This is related to the harmonization of the legal pattern of medical damage litigations as it lessens the dispute resolution before litigation and changes liti-gation expectations of the litigants aggravate the burden of evidence from applicants,especially the cost of applying of appraisal,increases the discretion of courts,but failing to improve its professional trial capacity in a timely manner. Based on the investigation of the influence of institutional changes to the logic of operations,the role of the third-party pre-statement dispute resolution mechanism in medical disputes should be further addressed in the future to balance the burden of evidence-relieving methods with the burden of doctor-patient evidence in the form of ease of proof and to improve the procedural diversion mechanism for conciliation and the diversion should be improved to strengthen dama-ges to make the compensation procedure more scientific.

Qual é o custo da prescrição pelo nome de marca na judicialização do acesso aos medicamentos? / What is the cost of brand name prescriptions in the judicialization of access to medicines?

Resumo Objetivos Estimar o custo e a economia da aquisição de medicamentos fornecidos por meio de ação judicial, considerando a aquisição de medicamentos de referência, genérico e similar. Métodos Estudo descritivo e analítico das ações judiciais (n=186) para acesso a medicamentos pleiteados na comarca de Antônio Prado/RS entre os anos de 2004 a 2015. Investigou-se o custo dos tratamentos em três cenários: A - a aquisição pela referência; B - a aquisição de genéricos; C - a aquisição do medicamento de menor valor. Resultados O valor acumulado necessário para o cumprimento integral das ações judiciais ativas entre os anos de 2004 a 2015 seria de R$6.592.936,58 para o cenário A, de R$5.573.571,19 para o cenário B e de R$5.357.309,82 para o cenário C. O percentual de economia comparativamente ao cenário A foi 13,44% pela aquisição de medicamentos genéricos (cenário B) e de 17,94% pela aquisição do medicamento de menor valor (cenário C). Conclusões As ações judiciais de acesso aos medicamentos deferidas pela marca de referência oneram o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e ferem o princípio da livre concorrência que orienta as licitações públicas.

Abstract Aim Estimate the cost and economics of the purchase of medicines provided through lawsuit considering the acquisition of branded medicines, generic and similar equivalent. Methods The descriptive and analytical study of deferred lawsuits (n = 186) for access to medicines demanded in the Antonio Prado - RS, between the years 2004 to 2015, investigated the cost of the medicines for the full compliance of the shares considering three scenarios: A - the acquisition of brand name medicines; B - the acquisition of generic and C - acquisition of smaller value considering brand name drug, generic equivalent or similar. The financial impact of this difference was estimated as the annual cost of the acquisition of Pharmaceutical Services Basic Component (CBAF) of this municipality. Results The accumulated amount required for full compliance with the active lawsuits between the years 2004 to 2015 would be R $ 6,592,936.58 for scenario A, of R $ 5,573,571.19 for the scenario B and R $ 5,357,309.82 for scenario C. The percentage saving compared to scenario A was 13.44% for the acquisition of generic drugs (scenario B) and 17.94% for the acquisition of lower drug (C scenario). This difference in cost of the branded drugs ordered through judicial processes is over than 6 years and budget means comparing scenario B to A, and nearly 10 years comparing the scenario C to A. Conclusions The lawsuits of access to medicines that require brand name drugs further burden the public health system, and hurt the principle of free competition that guides public tenders, including the drug. As the Brazilian Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) under the requirements shall be according to the Brazilian Common Denomination, the lawsuits for access to medicines should respect this guidance.

The Communication Effect of Lawyer in Medical Dispute Litigation from View of Game Theory / 中国医学伦理学

This paper analyzed medical dispute litigation from the view of game theory.The adoption of mediation strategy for both hospital and patient was the Pareto optimal of this model.The adoption of court decision for both hospital and patient was the Nash equilibrium and its overall benefit was the Pareto suboptimal of this model.The communication of patient's lawyer can prompt the reconciliation between hospital and patient.On the one hand,it let the hospital realize the responsibilities they should bear,on the other hand let patients be willing to make concessions on the basis of the original claims,and finally made the two sides reach a reconciliation agreement,thus to make conflict between hospital and patient end in litigation and the overall benefits maximize.

Proteção social e pessoa com deficiência no Brasil / Social protection and people with disabilities in Brazil

Resumo O trabalho analisa a proteção social à pessoa com deficiência no Brasil. Descreve o padrão de demanda e elegibilidade do Benefício de Prestação Continuada (BPC) no período 1996-2014. O artigo defende que o BPC é consequência direta do pacto social produzido pela Constituição Federal de 1988. O BPC é um benefício da Assistência Social em forma de transferência monetária no valor de um salário-mínimo para pessoas com deficiência e idosos com mais de 65 anos. A elegibilidade da pessoa deficiente depende de teste de meios e avaliação pela burocracia pública da condição social e médica. A metodologia de pesquisa utilizou a coleta e a análise de dados de séries de tempo e transversal. Variáveis qualitativas categóricas foram também usadas na descrição do padrão de demanda e elegibilidade. O artigo demonstra que o BPC é um importante mecanismo de garantia de renda básica à pessoa com deficiência e idosa. Entretanto, identifica barreiras sistemáticas de acesso à pessoa com deficiência. O trabalho argumenta que o padrão de indeferimento pode ser associado aos procedimentos de avaliação da burocracia das agências governamentais locais. O trabalho sugere que os instrumentos e os processos de avaliação possam ser revistos para ampliar a capacidade de inclusão no BPC.

Abstract The article analyzes the social protection policy for people with disabilities in Brazil. It describes the patterns of demand and eligibility for Continued Benefit of Social Assistance (Benefício de Prestação Continuada – BPC) in the 1996-2014 period. The article argues that BPC is a direct result of the social pact achieved by the Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988. BPC is a social assistance benefit consisting in an unconditional and monthly transference of the equivalent of a minimum wage, to poor people with deficiency and elders with more than 65 years. Disabled person eligibility depends on means-test, and social and medical evaluation by public bureaucracy. The research strategy was based on time series, and cross-sectional data collection and analysis. Dummy qualitative variables were also used to describe the pattern of demand and eligibility. The article demonstrates that BPC has provided income to disabled and elder people. However, systematic barriers were identified to disabled people’s access to BPC. The work suggests that the pattern of refusal could be associated to a means testing application by street-level-bureaucracy. In this sense, the work draws attention to the necessary revision of street-level-bureaucracy tools and procedures to increase BPC positive discrimination.

The Tobacco Industry's Abuse of Scientific Evidence and Activities to Recruit Scientists During Tobacco Litigation / 예방의학회지

South Korea's state health insurer, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), is in the process of a compensation suit against tobacco industry. The tobacco companies have habitually endeavored to ensure favorable outcomes in litigation by misusing scientific evidence or recruiting scientists to support its interests. This study analyzed strategies that tobacco companies have used during the NHIS litigation, which has been receiving world-wide attention. To understand the litigation strategies of tobacco companies, the present study reviewed the existing literature and carried out content analysis of petitions, preparatory documents, and supporting evidence submitted to the court by the NHIS and the tobacco companies during the suit. Tobacco companies misrepresented the World Health Organization (WHO) report's argument and misused scientific evidence, and removed the word "deadly" from the title of the citation. Tobacco companies submitted the research results of scientists who had worked as a consultant for the tobacco industry as evidence. Such litigation strategies employed by the tobacco companies internationally were applied similarly in Korean lawsuits. Results of tobacco litigation have a huge influence on tobacco control policies. For desirable outcomes of the suits, healthcare professionals need to pay a great deal of attention to the enormous volume of written opinions and supporting evidence that tobacco companies submit. They also need to face the fact that the companies engage in recruitment of scientists. Healthcare professionals should refuse to partner with tobacco industry, as recommended by Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Analysis of Malpractice Claims Associated with Surgical Site Infection in the Field of Plastic Surgery

Postoperative infections are rare after plastic surgery; however, when present, they can affect the aesthetic outcome. Currently, many malpractice lawsuits are associated with surgical site infection. The present study aimed to analyze malpractice claims associated with surgical site infection in the field of plastic surgery through a review of Korean precedents. We analyzed the type of procedure, associated complications, and legal judgment in these cases. Most claimants were women, and claims were most often related to breast surgery. The common complications related to surgical site infection were deformity, scar, and asymmetry. Among the 40 cases, 34 were won by the plaintiff, and the mean claim settlement was 2,832,654 KRW (USD 2,636.6). The reasons for these judgements were as follows: 1) immediate bacterial culture tests were not performed and appropriate antibiotics were not used; 2) patients were not transferred to a high-level hospital or the infection control department was not consulted; 3) surgical site infection control measures were not appropriate; and 4) surgical procedures were performed without preoperative explanation about surgical site infection. The number of claims owing to surgical site infection after surgery is increasing. Infection handling was one of the key factors that influenced the judgement, and preoperative explanation about the possibility of infection is important. The findings will help surgeons achieve high patient satisfaction and reduce liability concerns.

El litigio estructural en salud: un estudio comparado con base en casos de Sudáfrica, Argentina, India y Colombia / Estructural litigation in health: a comparative study based on cases from South Africa, Argentina, India and Colombia

La creciente judicialización del derecho a la salud ha llevado a indagar por las condiciones que propician que la intervención de los tribunales constitucionales en la materia sea exitosa. OBJETIVO:identificar los factores asociados con el éxito del litigio estructural en salud, particularmente cuando involucra órdenes generales y complejas. METODOLOGÍA:Para ello se recurre a cuatro procesos judiciales adelantados en Sudáfrica, Argentina, India y Colombia en los que la garantía de la salud ha sido mediada, de una u otra forma, por el poder judicial. Los casos son analizados a partir del método comparativo propuesto por Charles Ragin, en el cual las variables independientes o explicativas son los factores que determinan la mayor probabilidad de éxito del caso. RESULTADOS:la investigación adopta el punto de vista según el cual el litigio estructural en salud es exitoso si produce cuatro de los efectos explicados por César Rodríguez y Diana Rodríguez: efecto de desbloqueo, efecto de Políticas Públicas, efecto social y efecto deliberativo. La comparación de estos procesos de judicialización de la salud en distintos contextos, permite arribar a aprendizajes para la garantía de este derecho en Colombia.

The rise of health legalization has led to explore the conditions that produce a successful intervention of constitutional courts in this field. OBJECTIVE:the purpose of this research is to identify factors associated with the success of the structural litigation in health, particularly when it involves general and complex orders. METHODOLOGY:this topic was analized in four judicial proceedings in South Africa, Argentina, India and Colombia where health guarantee has been mediated, in one way or another, by the judiciary. The cases are discussed using the comparative method proposed by Charles Ragin, in which the independent or explanatory variables are the factors that determine the highest probability of success of the case. RESULTS:the research adopts the point of view that structural litigation in health is successful if it produces four effects explained by Cesar Rodriguez and Diana Rodriguez: unlocking effect, public policy effect, social impact and deliberative effect. The comparison of these processes in different contexts, allows arriving to new learnings in order to guarantee this right in Colombia.

Medical Litigation and the Care of Newborns

PURPOSE: Recently, legal disputes resulting from medical accidents have been increasing annually. The purpose of this study is to determine the causes and characteristics of medical disputes brought as a result of neonatal accidents and to suggest measures to reduce the number of medical malpractice suits. METHODS: Twenty-eight medical malpractice lawsuits brought as a result of neonatal accidents between 2005 and 2009 were analyzed. RESULTS: The average time taken to resolve these lawsuits was approximately 4.4 years. The average gestational age and birth weight of the newborns in these cases were 35.3+/-4.2 weeks and 2,668+/-931 g, respectively. Twelve cases (42.9%) were concluded partially in favor of the plaintiffs, while in 10 (35.7%) cases the plaintiffs lost. In 11 of the 12 cases that were concluded partially in favor of the plaintiffs, the defendants were found guilty of violating their duty of care. Medical accidents resulted in death in 10 cases and physical disability in 18 cases, and cerebral palsy and blindness were the most common physical disabilities. The average compensation amount ordered as damages was KRW 161,389,291+/-12,636,454. CONCLUSION: In medical litigation, the standard of judgment is whether appropriate medical practices were performed based on the patient's symptoms. Thus, to comply with the medical treatment rules is paramount in securing patients' safety and protecting doctors themselves. Individual effort is necessary, but not sufficient to prevent medical accidents; multilateral, systemic reform is also required if the number of neonatal medical accidents is to be reduced.