A survey of sued physicians’ self-reported reactions to malpractice litigation in Iran

ObjectiveTo illustrate the psychological effect of grievances and negligence litigation on doctors sued by Legal Medicine Organization Complaints Commissions.MethodsRetrospective survey regarding the views of a large sample of Iranian sued physicians by using a piloted anonymous questionnaire.ResultsThe answer rate was 77.5%. Seventy-six per cent of participants encountered monitoring criteria for psychiatric disturbance. Rate of psychological morbidity in between study cluster was much higher than Iranian general population, Iranian non-sued general practitioners, interns and medical students. There was, however, minimal dysfunction of work, public or family life. The survey form to estimate the doctor’s realization of lawful risk displayed that doctors yet misconceive medico-legal risk. Doctors being sued or having legal protests against them depict the process as an exceedingly demanding event.ConclusionsGrievance or legal action is unusual in the daily practice of doctors, but in today’s medico-legal domain they face a continuous possible threat. The threat of, or real, legal process can cause psychological, corporeal and behavioral practice changes.