Medical negligence under pressure: obligations of clinicians and healthcare services in the setting of resource limitations

Danielle C Panaccio; Caitlin C Farmer; Sam C Pang; Jessica M Dean; Patrick D Mahar; Dev A Kevat

doi:10.1111/imj.16421

Medical negligence under pressure: obligations of clinicians and healthcare services in the setting of resource limitations

Intern Med J. 2024 Jul;54(7):1205-1207. doi: 10.1111/imj.16421.

Authors

Danielle C Panaccio^{1

2

3}, Caitlin C Farmer^{2

3

4}, Sam C Pang^{2

3

5}, Jessica M Dean^{2

3

6}, Patrick D Mahar^{3

7

8}, Dev A Kevat^{2

3

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
² Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
³ Medicolegal Consultancy Group, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁵ Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Department of Intensive Care, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Skin Health Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Department of Dermatology, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Department of Endocrinology, Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 39013774
DOI: 10.1111/imj.16421

Abstract

Healthcare provision takes place in a variety of contexts, with variations of resources available to practitioners and their patients. Effects from the COVID-19 pandemic superimposed on existing system demands have driven increasing concern about resource limitations, particularly in rural and remote settings. This article explores the legal liability of medical practitioners and healthcare services with respect to actions in negligence arising from harm to patients suffered, either partly or wholly, as a result of resource limitations.

Keywords: healthcare resources; medical law; negligence; triage.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Delivery of Health Care / legislation & jurisprudence
Health Resources
Humans
Liability, Legal*
Malpractice* / legislation & jurisprudence