By reviewing five medical tangle cases after traumatic injury, the characters of these cases and the cause of medical malpractice had been discussed. After the analysis of the responsibility to the death caused by traumatic injury and medical malpractice, the assessment principle of cooperative competition of causes and degree of participation had been introduced. Meanwhile, it is believed that if comprehensive postmortem examination and pathologic examination were carried out to verify the death cause at first, they would play more important role in the appraisal of medical tangle cases after traumatic injury.
Abdominal Injuries/surgery* ; Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Craniocerebral Trauma/surgery* ; Defensive Medicine ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Male ; Malpractice ; Young Adult

There has been a great deal of concern about medical malpractice in Korea. Exact figures are difficult to determine, but medical accidents or disputes have increased since the late 1980's. Since 1988, there have been various legislative attempts to pass the 'Medical Dispute Adjustment Act', a kind of alternative dispute resolution. Finally, in March 2011, the mediation law was enacted. The purpose of this law is to create a rapid, efficient recovery system for patients, and to provide a safe, stable environment for medical personnel. Even though medical accidents are inevitable, like other accidents, of course neither doctors nor patients wish for them to occur. However, the medical system lacks an alternative solution for promoting a rational process for communication about medical accidents. As a result, violence against doctors and occupation of medical institutions are more common than they could be. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has alleviated the burden of proof in medical disputes by applying the theory of prima facie evidence to protect the rights of patients. Though the Supreme Court's position is reasonable in terms of patient care, these cases could lead to 'defensive medicine'. This phrase refers to treatments motivated more by the reduction of liability than by medical needs. This means an increase in health care costs. Above all, civil litigation requires a great deal of time for both parties. Consequently, if medical accidents are inevitable, medical personnel should respond proactively to accidents rather than concealing them. The social recognition of medical malpractice must change in order to create an effective adjustment system and prevent as many medical accidents as possible.
Defensive Medicine ; Dissent and Disputes ; Health Care Costs ; Human Rights ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Korea ; Malpractice ; Negotiating ; Occupations ; Patient Care ; Violence

In terms of years of life lost to premature mortality, cancer imposes the highest burden in Korea. In order to reduce the burden of cancer, the Korean government has implemented cancer control programs aiming to reduce cancer incidence, to increase survival rates, and to decrease cancer mortality. However, these programs may paradoxically increase the cost burden. For examples, a cancer screening program for early detection could bring about over-diagnosis and over-treatment, and supplying medical services in a paternalistic manner could lead to defensive medicine or futile care. As a practical measure to reduce the cost burden of cancer, appropriate cancer care should be established. Ensuring appropriateness requires patient-doctor communication to ensure that utility values are shared and that autonomous decisions are made regarding medical services. Thus, strategies for reducing the cost burden of cancer through ensuring appropriate patient-centered care include introducing value-based medicine, conducting cost-utility studies, and developing patient decision aids.
Cost of Illness ; Decision Support Techniques ; Defensive Medicine ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Mortality, Premature ; Patient-Centered Care* ; Practice Valuation and Purchase ; Quality of Health Care ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden