Medical error and malpractice. Medical responsibility

Abstract

An epistemic-ethical analysis is performed to distinguish between medical errors with or without responsibility. A good medical praxis is performed with prudence, expertise, diligence, good-intention and integrity. Each one of these terms is defined as well as Lex Artis and medical intention. Sources of pre-medical errors are examined, such as the limitation of examinations and instruments, specificity, sensitivity, resolution limit, scale gradation, etc. The need for interpretation of laboratory results within their instrumental limits, their position within the population variability and genome-environmental condition of the patient is emphasized. Also errors may come from administration, information systems and from the patient. Medical mal-practice is defined as that made without prudence and expertise, with negligence, maliciousness or bad-conscience.