Investigating the extent of medical malpractice in cosmetic surgeries during the first half of 2019: A Study of the Tehran Forensic Commission

Abstract

Introduction: A comprehensive review of medical complaint cases has been identified as a valuable tool for identifying the various factors that contribute to medical malpractice. This review has been found to assist surgeons in the prevention of such errors, thereby ensuring patient safety. Cosmetic surgeries frequently elicit a high volume of complaints against medical professionals, underscoring the need for a comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon to mitigate its repercussions.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study examined 136 patient complaints referred to the Tehran Province Forensic Commission during the initial six months of 2019. The complaints were assessed using a researcher-designed questionnaire and compared with the final rulings issued by judges against the opinions of the forensic medical commissions. The collected data were then subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software, version 25.

Results: The findings indicated that 62.5 % of the 136 patients with a documented history of cosmetic surgery were between the ages of 20 and 40, with a majority being female (89 %). Among the medical professionals, 83.8 % were male, and 43.4 % had surgical specializations. The most prevalent cause of malpractice was the failure to adhere to scientific and technical standards. According to court rulings, 76.4 % of the 72 cases initially deemed malpractice by the forensic commission were confirmed. A substantial correlation was identified between the type of specialty, anesthesia, and the gender of the attending physicians and the occurrence of medical malpractice (P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that in over half of the cases, the doctor's malpractice was proven, with the most common cause being the failure to adhere to scientific and technical standards. This finding underscores the importance of addressing this issue.

Keywords: Cosmetic surgery; Medical malpractice.