Biomaterial Database

[Physician's legal responsibility]. 1991

C Alonso

Departamento de Medicina, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile.

The professional responsibility of the physician and the concept of malpractice are analyzed. In determining malpractice, the intention and the mode of action are more important than the actual damage that may be caused. Legal sanctions for malpractice must be based on objective evidence of inexcusable negligence in the medical action. A moral attitude stressing the values of Medicine rather than fear from legal sanctions should underlie all medical practice.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008318	Malpractice	Failure of a professional person, a physician or lawyer, to render proper services through reprehensible ignorance or negligence or through criminal intent, especially when injury or loss follows. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Professional Negligence,Negligence,Negligence, Professional,Professional Negligences
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011364	Professional Practice	The use of one's knowledge in a particular profession. It includes, in the case of the field of biomedicine, professional activities related to health care and the actual performance of the duties related to the provision of health care.	Practice, Professional,Practices, Professional,Professional Practices
D004992	Ethics, Medical	The principles of professional conduct concerning the rights and duties of the physician, relations with patients and fellow practitioners, as well as actions of the physician in patient care and interpersonal relations with patient families.	Medical Ethics
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012941	Social Responsibility	The obligations and accountability assumed in carrying out actions or ideas on behalf of others.	Obligation, Social,Responsibility, Social,Accountability,Communitarianism,Future Generations,Obligations to Society,Social Accountability,Accountability, Social,Future Generation,Generation, Future,Generations, Future,Obligations, Social,Responsibilities, Social,Social Obligation,Social Obligations,Social Responsibilities,Society, Obligations to