Jump to content

Liability on Medical Missions


Recommended Posts

Hey all.

 

Just wondering if anybody knows anything about this.

 

I've been looking into doing a medical mission and have talked into a few companies. One told me that I would be treating 200 patients per day, as well as teaching students with minimal staffing and facilities.

 

After doing some research, I've found that while the risk is low, medical malpractice lawsuits are actually increasing in third world countries. 200 patients in a day is A LOT and very risky from a malpractice standpoint.

 

Just wondering if anybody has experience with this kind of thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Hey all.

 

Just wondering if anybody knows anything about this.

 

I've been looking into doing a medical mission and have talked into a few companies. One told me that I would be treating 200 patients per day, as well as teaching students with minimal staffing and facilities.

 

After doing some research, I've found that while the risk is low, medical malpractice lawsuits are actually increasing in third world countries. 200 patients in a day is A LOT and very risky from a malpractice standpoint.

 

Just wondering if anybody has experience with this kind of thing.

That is sad that it is coming to this (malpractice). Where I've worked, malpractice suits were not on the radar and we had no coverage. In Pakistan, however, a poor outcome would mean the provider would be killed by the family that night so if someone was going down hill, rather than saving them (99%) we would have to turn them away to certain death or risk us being killed in the 1% chance they died on our watch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

not an issue in Haiti. folks are more realistic there and know sometimes bad outcomes happen and it is not anyone's fault.

 

I don't remember if you went to Nepal last year or not.  If so did you run in to any problems there?  How did/does your group address this issue if at all?

 

I had two colleagues who went with the local team and neither reported any issues and to my knowledge did not have malpractice coverage individually before going.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator

For some of these locations I suspect that they'd take all the help they could get, liability be damned.

yup, true of most of the developing world. one place I go to in Haiti we are the only care they receive EVER. NO ONE else goes there and the nearest rural clinic is a full day's walk away.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 months later...

I realize this is an old conversation, but I am planning to go to Mexico next month for a few days to staff a free clinic with a doc from my church.  The consensus here seems to be that no malpractice coverage is necessary for distant international work.  Any opinions on Mexico volunteering?  The doc going with me has decided not to worry about it, every PA friend I've spoken with about their previous international volunteer work seems to have no idea about malpractice.  Go with God seems to be everyone's attitude.  That just makes me nervous.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 months later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to the Physician Assistant Forum! This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn More