Medical Responsibility and Liability in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Abstract

This chapter includes three subchapters, specifically devoted to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Lithuania: this subchapter begins with an overview of the judicial and normative situation regarding medical liability in Lithuania, discussing judicial/extra-judicial institutions and operative roles within that context. The second section of the subchapter describes the ascertainment methodology for living persons and cadavers in Lithuania, while the third section examines the evaluation criteria. The subchapter ends with a discussion on the future perspectives for medical liability in Lithuania. Latvia: the first section of the subchapter contains an overview of the legislation governing the medical practitioner’s liability and is followed by a description of the extra-legal activity in Latvia. The main section of the subchapter outlines the ascertainment methodology for living persons and cadavers in Latvia, while the fourth section examines the evaluation criteriology currently in effect. The subchapter ends with a discussion on the future perspectives for medical liability in Latvia. Estonia: this subchapter begins with a judicial and normative overview of medical liability in Estonia, while the second section outlines the judicial/extra-judicial institutions and operative roles. The third section details the ascertainment methodology, in Estonia, for living persons and cadavers, while the penultimate section focuses on the evaluation criteria. This subchapter ends with a discussion on the future perspectives for medical liability in Estonia.

Editors’ Note: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are countries traditionally lacking a solid background in management of medicolegal cases involving alleged malpractice. The information resulting from the practice in use within these settings is the consequence of a context not comparable with the European level in the field.