Present and Future Perspectives for Medical Malpractice, Responsibility, and Liability

Abstract

This chapter examines the epidemiology of malpractice in Europe outlining the causes of the huge increase of this phenomenon, which has passed the stage and the connotation of mere Epidemic. Although the European Council has promoted actions to identify good practice in medical liability in 47 Member States, to allow a more uniform approach to the issue, the legal systems, operative roles, and institutions that handle medical responsibility in Europe remain heterogeneous and raise the need for an extensive harmonization process. The following chapters of the monograph and the medico-legal consensus guidelines developed under the patronage of the European Academy of Legal Medicine constitute a first step in this process of harmonization.