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Medical malpractice involving colon and rectal disease: A 20-year review of United States civil court litigation

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

To determine objectively the causes of malpractice litigation involving colon and rectal disease, a retrospective review was undertaken of all cases tried in the U.S. federal and state civil court system over a 21-year period from 1971 through 1991. Ninety-eight malpractice cases were identified from a computerized legal data base, involving 103 allegations of negligence. Allegations fell into five major categories: 1) failure to timely diagnose disease, principally colorectal cancer and appendicitis (n=44/ 103; 43 percent); 2) iatrogenic colon injury (n=25/ 103; 24 percent); 3) iatrogenic medical complications during diagnosis or treatment (n=16/103; 15 percent); 4) sphincter injury with fecal incontinence, resulting from anorectal surgery or midline episiotomy (n=10/ 103; 10 percent); and 5) lack of informed consent, especially regarding extent of procedures or risk of endoscopy (n=8/103; 8 percent). These data may aid in design of risk prevention strategies related to the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut

    Kenneth A. Kern M.D.

Authors
  1. Kenneth A. Kern M.D.
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Additional information

Supported in part by a grant from United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, Connecticut.

Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, San Francisco, California, June 7 to 12, 1992.

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Kern, K.A. Medical malpractice involving colon and rectal disease: A 20-year review of United States civil court litigation. Dis Colon Rectum 36, 531–539 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02049857

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02049857

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