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Original Article
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Korean J Intern Med. 2025;40(3):404-426. Published online April 30, 2025.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2024.343
- Medical disputes involving lower gastrointestinal endoscopies: cases from the Korean Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency
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Eun Hye Oh1, Jeong Eun Shin2, Jun Yong Bae3, Yoon Suk Lee4, Yehyun Park5, Yong Hwan Kwon6, Chang Nyol Paik7, Jun Kyu Lee8, Tae Hee Lee9
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1Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Korea
2Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea
3Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
4Department of Internal Medicine, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
5Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
6Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
7Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea
8Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea
9Institute for Digestive Research, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Corresponding author: Tae Hee Lee ,Tel: +82-2-709-9866, Email: iman0825@naver.com
- Received: September 28, 2024; Revised: November 30, 2024 Accepted: April 5, 2024.
- Abstract
- Background/Aims
As the number of lower gastrointestinal endoscopies and high-risk examinees increases, the incidence of adverse events associated with these endoscopies has also increased. Medical disputes and lawsuits related to adverse events are rapidly increasing.
Methods
Medical disputes related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy that had been filed in Korean Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency (K-medi) from April 2012 to August 2020 were evaluated with the corresponding medical records and written appraisal. Facilities, patients, procedures, adverse events, and outcome-related variables related to medical disputes were analyzed.
Results
As the number of lower gastrointestinal endoscopies in Korea increases each year, the number of medical disputes related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy appraised by K-medi has also increased yearly during the same period. Among the 121 cases analyzed, 86 (71.1%) were conciliated and 35 (28.9%) were cosigned by prosecution. Perforations accounted for the largest proportion of cases (93 cases, 76.9%). Most patients (n = 119, 98.3%) underwent non-emergent procedures, and only 10 (8.3%) underwent them for therapeutic purposes. Approximately one-fifth of the patients (n = 25, 20.7%) died.
Conclusions
The number of medical disputes related to lower gastrointestinal endoscopy are increasing. To prevent this, it is important to review the data on existing cases and establish specific response guidelines.
Keywords :Patient safety; Medical litigation; Medical accidents; Medical errors; Colonoscopy
