Adverse drug events and its forensic medical identification.
- Author:
Teng CHEN
1
;
Xiao-peng RU
;
Shan-zhi GU
;
Wei HAN
;
Xiao-di JIA
;
Ya GAO
;
Qin-chu ZHANG
Author Information
1. Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China. chenteng@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Adult;
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions;
Expert Testimony;
Female;
Forensic Medicine;
Health Services Administration/legislation & jurisprudence*;
Humans;
Male;
Malpractice/statistics & numerical data*;
Medical Errors/prevention & control*;
Middle Aged;
Retrospective Studies;
Risk Factors;
Sex Distribution;
Young Adult
- From:
Journal of Forensic Medicine
2007;23(1):26-29
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the basic principles and important rules of forensic identification of adverse drug events and to accumulate basic data and to provide references for forensic identification of similar cases.
METHODS:Thirty-three cases of adverse drug events in our forensic identification files were retrospectively reviewed, analyzed, and summarized.
RESULTS:There were 27 live and 6 dead victims included in this study. Our study showed a gradually increasing numbers of adverse drug cases in forensic identification year by year with a slight female predominance (20/33 cases, 60.6%). Of the 33 victims, nearly two-thirds (21/33, 63.6%) were due to hospital errors including only one case of drug overdose (1/21, 4.8%), whereas the rest were not related to the hospital errors. Eight cases (8/33, 24.2%) were caused by illegal medical practitioners due to improper use of medication.
CONCLUSION:Investigators need to pay more attention to the characteristics and complexities of adverse drug events on a case by case basis encountered in increasing numbers of more and more such forensic identification.
