Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
The Korean Society for Medical Ethics
Article

의료분쟁과 화해: 체계적인 의사소통과정을 통한 자율적 분쟁처리

류화신1,*
Hwa-Shin Ryoo1,*
1충북대학교 법과대학
1College of law, Chungbuk National University
*충북대학교 법과대학. 043-261-3589. lawdeo@chungbuk.ac.kr

ⓒ Copyright 2006 The Korean Society for Medical Ethics. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Dec 31, 2006

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the relationship between poor physician-patient communication and litigation. The most important factor leading to a compromise in a medical dispute following an adverse event is a match between what the patient wants and what the physician provides. The following recommendations, based on the pew demonstration mediation and ADR project in Pensylvania hospitals, are given: 1) that physicians and other health care professionals develop an awareness of the communications skills most likely to be useful during disclosure conversations; 2) that hospitals recruit or train in-house experts available as consultants to aid in planning, conducting, and debriefing disclosure conversations; 3) that hospitals encourage physicians, patient safety officers, and risk managers to spend time planning before conducting disclosure conversations; 4) that physicians, hospital representatives, and other health care providers offer an appropriate apology after an adverse event or error; 5) that hospitals and senior physicians provide opportunities for debriefing and support for health care professionals after an error; 6) that hospitals use mediation as soon as practical after an adverse event to settle potential claims. Taking steps to improve disclosure conversations and using alternatives to litigating medical malpractice claims will help hospitals reduce costs, improve patient safety, and restore trust.

Keywords: 환자-의사 의사소통; 의료분쟁에서의 화해; 정보공개 대화
Keywords: Physician-patient communication skills; Compromise in medical disputes; Disclosure conversations