Physicians' explanatory behaviours and legal liability in decided medical malpractice litigation cases in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A physician's duty to provide an adequate explanation to the patient is derived from the doctrine of informed consent and the physician's duty of disclosure. However, findings are extremely limited with respect to physicians' specific explanatory behaviours and what might be regarded as a breach of the physicians' duty to explain in an actual medical setting. This study sought to identify physicians' explanatory behaviours that may be related to the physicians' legal liability.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analysed legal decisions of medical malpractice cases between 1990 and 2009 in which the pivotal issue was the physician's duty to explain (366 cases). To identify factors related to the breach of the physician's duty to explain, an analysis was undertaken based on acknowledged breaches with regard to the physician's duty to explain to the patient according to court decisions. Additionally, to identify predictors of physicians' behaviours in breach of the duty to explain, logistic regression analysis was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When the physician's explanation was given before treatment or surgery (<it>p </it>= 0.006), when it was relevant or specific (<it>p </it>= 0.000), and when the patient's consent was obtained (<it>p </it>= 0.002), the explanation was less likely to be deemed inadequate or a breach of the physician's duty to explain. Patient factors related to physicians' legally problematic explanations were patient age and gender. One physician factor was related to legally problematic physician explanations, namely the number of physicians involved in the patient's treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings may be useful in improving physician-patient communication in the medical setting.</p

Accounting: A General Commentary on an Empirical Science

Many researchers have questioned the view of accounting as a science. Some maintain that it is a service activity rather than a science, yet others entertain the view that it is an art or merely a technology. While it is true that accounting provides a service and is a technology (a methodology for recording and reporting), that fact does not prevent accounting from being a science. Based upon the structure and knowledge base of the discipline, this paper presents the case for accounting as an empirical science

Hay-Wells Syndrome

Hay-Wells syndrome is an autosomal dominant constellation of facial clefting, ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum (fused eyelids), and ectodermal defects. Our patient, a child who had these unusual features at birth, led us to consider possible differential diagnoses based on clinical features and review of the literature

Hay-Wells Syndrome

Hay-Wells syndrome is an autosomal dominant constellation of facial clefting, ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum (fused eyelids), and ectodermal defects. Our patient, a child who had these unusual features at birth, led us to consider possible differential diagnoses based on clinical features and review of the literature

Retinal Vascular Abnormalities in Phakomatosis Pigmentovascularis

PURPOSE: To describe the spectrum of retinal vascular abnormalities in patients with phakomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV). DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective, noncomparative, consecutive case series. METHODS: Eligible patients underwent detailed retinal examination including indirect ophthalmoscopy. Ultra-widefield fundus imaging, including color fundus photography and angiography, was performed using standardized protocols, and findings were recorded and reviewed and analyzed. PARTICIPANTS: Three patients with a clinical diagnosis of PPV are presented. RESULTS: Evaluation of all patients (n = 6 eyes of 3 patients) with widefield fluorescein angiography showed several retinal vascular abnormalities, including peripheral retinal nonperfusion (n = 3 eyes), peripheral vascular leakage (n = 3 eyes), aberrant retinal vessels (n = 1 eyes), vascular tortuosity (n = 1 eyes), and disruption of the foveal avascular zone including fovea plana (n = 3 eyes). In addition, 2 eyes demonstrated peripheral retinal vascular straightening and leakage similar to the features of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy. One of the patients was a carrier of a somatic GNA11 R183C pathogenic variant that has been associated with PPV. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescein angiography, especially with widefield capability, reveals numerous retinal vascular abnormalities in patients with PPV. Considering the association of GNA11 pathogenic variants with PPV and allied disorders, these observations may suggest a role of guanine-binding proteins (G-proteins) in retinal vascular development. Supplemental material available at www.ophthalmologyretina.org