The present and future situation of “model project for investigation and analysis of medical practice associated deaths” in Osaka, Japan

• Published in: Legal medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 11; pp. S372 - S375
• Main Authors: Kuroki, Hisanaga, Sugimoto, Kana, Nakama, Kentaro, Yamamoto, Takuma, Takeuchi, Dan, Ochi, Hiroshi, Kataoka, Mayumi, Tamura, Yoshihide, Tsujino, Masaki, Mitsukuni, Yoichi, Matoba, Ryoji
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Advisory Committees; Autopsy; Criminal law; Forensic Medicine - organization & administration; Humans; Internal Medicine; Japan; Malpractice; Malpractice - legislation & jurisprudence; Medical Errors - legislation & jurisprudence; Medical Errors - prevention & control; Medical practice; Model project; Models, Organizational; Program Evaluation; Quality Assurance, Health Care - organization & administration; Reported deaths; Safety; Third-party organization; Japan; Model project; Reported deaths; Medical practice; Autopsy; Japan; Malpractice; Third-party organization; Criminal law
• ISSN: 1344-6223; 1873-4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2009.01.044

Abstract To enhance the quality and safety of medical care, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) launched a model project in September 2005 for investigation and analysis of medical practice associated deaths in an attempt to move the existing system in a different direction. The project, initiated in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kobe, has now been implemented in nine prefectures. In the hope that the model project will lead to the nationwide development of medical safety investigating committees, the MHLW has submitted a provisional third plan. Based on our practical experience of the model project in Osaka, we present and discuss practical problems and legal issues involving surgeons’ criminal punishment.