Authors

Inés Casado-Verdejo1, Raúl Tardío-López2, Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón1, Laura Muñoz-Bermejo3,Fátima Postigo-Gallego4, Salvador Postigo-Mota3

Position

1Doctora. Departamento de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. Universidad de León. Ponferrada (León)2Abogado. Máster en Derecho Sanitario. Colegio Profesional de Enfermería de Badajoz3Doctor/a. Departamento de Enfermería. Universidad de Extremadura. Mérida (Badajoz)4Máster en Salud Laboral. Ministerio de Justicia. Mérida (Badajoz)

Contact address

Inés Casado Verdejo. Universidad de León. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Avda. Astorga, s/n. 24401 Ponferrada (León).

Contact email: ines.casado@unileon.es

Abstract

Objective: to establish the main determining factors used to estimate claims brought by socio-healthcare patients with bed sores. Method: analysis of judicial resolutions obtained through an exhaustive search conducted in specialised databases in the Spanish case-law system, between 2007 and 2017, in civil, criminal and contentious-administrative jurisdictions. Results: a total of 22 pronouncements were obtained, 10 ruling in favour and 12 against; the main conclusions drawn included the need to follow “lex artis ad hoc” by applying adequate preventive and therapeutic measures, for which clinical practice protocols or guides are recommended, and the relevance of entering any procedures into each patient’s medical records, constituting proof of professional care in various judicial proceedings. Conclusions: in addition to guaranteeing patient rights, compliance with “lex artis ad hoc” and the entry of healthcare professionals’ activity into medical records has become a safeguard to fight malpractice claims in court, as evidenced by the case-law analysed on the matter.

Versión en Español

Título:

Responsabilidad profesional en el manejo de úlceras por presión: análisis de la jurisprudencia