Classification of plastic surgery malpractice complaints brought before the Sao Paulo Medical Board that were treated as professional-misconduct cases: a cross-sectional study

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Mariani, PC (Author) Other; Constantino, CF (Author) Other; Rui Nunes (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Sao Paulo Medical Journal

Vol. 138

Pages: 140-145

ISSN: 1516-3180

Publisher: Associação Paulista de Medicina

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-9QN

DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2019.0363.09122019

Abstract (EN): BACKGROUND: Nowadays, there is an ethical and moral necessity to establish rules that govern professional attitudes and conduct. In the medical field, these rules are multifaceted, given the health consequences inherent to medical procedures. Ethics is an even more delicate subject when it comes to plastic surgery, since one of the aims of this particular medical specialty is esthetic improvement of the body. OBJECTIVE: To survey and classify Sao Paulo State Medical Board investigations of plastic-surgery complaints that were treated as professional-misconduct cases between 2007 and 2016. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in a medical council. METHODS: A total of 360 cases were reviewed. Among these, 8 (2.23%) were dismissed, 1 (0.27%) became an administrative lawsuit and 351 (97.50%) were treated as professional-misconduct cases. RESULTS: A breakdown of the complaints filed over the nine-year period showed that complaints concerning malpractice were the most common (28.43%), followed by those regarding medical advertising (24.19%) and poor doctor-patient relationships (10.39%). CONCLUSION: Overall, the number of complaints lodged decreased over the last two years reviewed, although complaints regarding malpractice and poor doctor-patient relationships increased by 10% over the same period. In order to further reduce the number of medical board investigations, the medical establishment needs to carefully review the medical training of students and doctors at every stage of their careers.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6