Evaluation of medical errors in obstetrics and gynecology wards: A Descriptive cross-sectional study between 2002 and 2018 in Jahrom city

Medical malpractice is an act committed by a medical or healthcare professional who deviates from the standards in his or her profession and causes harm to the patient. Meanwhile, medical malpractice in the field of obstetrics and gynecology includes a wide range of complaints against physicians, and prevention of this type of malpractice requires an understanding of its epidemiology. In this study, medical errors in gynecology and obstetrics departments of Jahrom city were investigated.

A cross-sectional-descriptive study was conducted to investigate medical errors related to referral cases to Jahrom Forensic Medicine Organization in the gynecology and obstetrics departments between 2002 and 2018. The method of data collection was based on the questionnaire and the use of the information in the files in the medical commission of the General Directorate of Forensic Medicine of Jahrom city. The data were analyzed in SPSS software.

Sixteen complaints have been lodged against Obstetrician and gynecologist specialists in the evaluated period; Of the 14 cases (82.35%) related to childbirth, 1 case (5.88%) was related to genital infection and 1 case (5.88%) was related to breast tumor. The average age of the plaintiffs was 29.81. The youngest complainant was 24 years old and the oldest was 45 years old. Votes issued for 9 cases (52.94%) of complaints leading to failure to prove negligence, 3 cases (17.64%) indicating negligence of obstetrician and gynecologist, 2 cases (11.76%) of the ban on prosecution due to the time, 1 case (5.88%) resulted in a written cautation to gynecologist and 1 case (5.88%) resulted in the plaintiff's consent to the obstetrician. There were three cases of negligence, one involving the placement of surgical instruments during a cesarean section, one involving the death of a baby during childbirth, and one involving the absence of a diagnosis of a breast tumor.

Most of the medical malpractice charges in cases against obstetricians and gynecologists are related to labor management. This demonstrates the need to provide courses based on complex cases leading to complaints for the obstetrics and gynecology department.