Galloping medico-legal claims ranging between R50 million and R80 million, coupled with exorbitant medical insurance rates of up to R1 million a year are some of the many reasons specialists are leaving the health profession in droves
High values of private practice litigation force ob-gyns to abandon ship and seek employment elsewhere
“The increase in litigation of ob-gyns is of great concern to Sasog and is having a negative impact on the profession and the relationship between patient and doctor. Kruger said pregnancy and childbirth are complex and dangerous processes of transition, where tragic complications can and do occur. Asked why health specialists don’t do quality work that does not lead to litigation, Kruger said: “An increase in litigation does not necessarily mean that there is more malpractice occurring. It means that there is more litigation and that the quantum of the claims is increasing as well.
For obstetricians in private practice, indemnity insurance premiums cost up to R1 million per year. This puts enormous pressure on affordability for the patient. Kruger said in the public sector, it is perceived that there is little consequence for a doctor accused of malpractice. “The number of ob-gyns per 100 000 people worldwide is calculated on the basis of having a strong midwife support basis. Thus midwives would be doing deliveries supported by an ob-gyn at the top, and a good number of medical doctors in between. In our public sector facilities, the scarcity of human resources means that the system is overburdened,” she said.
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