Let's just say it: working in the healthcare industry comes with more than its fair share of risks nowadays. Healthcare and malpractice allegations seem to be synonymous, with litigation trends showing an upward trajectory all around the world.
Just recently in July 2015, a Singapore doctor faced a suspension of three years for stating the cause of death of two patients wrongly and then trying to cover it up. He pleaded guilty to two charges of professional negligence and was also fined S$6,000, The Straits Times reported.
But that’s Singapore, you say. That’s just how it is in such developed systems. Surely the rest of Asia’s different?
The Asian POV
In developing countries in Asia, the healthcare industry have typically been protected by the respect people have for the medical profession – the idea of suing a doctor or nurse or other healthcare provider is quite unheard of, particularly in countries where civil liberties are a fairly new concept.
For the most part, insurance for healthcare workers is optional in the region and, in countries without a history of litigation, may seem like an unnecessary spend.
However, this is changing. Malaysia and Macau are moving forward with compulsory professional indemnity insurance for their doctors and, as countries compete for increasingly mobile patients, it’s likely that others will follow suit. The rising middle classes can travel to Singapore for high quality care; Thailand, Korea and Hong Kong are booming in the aesthetic medicine sector, with patients from neighboring countries generally being the higher percentage. Malpractice exposures are now even more widened.
Patients are voting with their feet. They are increasingly seeking (and can afford to pay for) better treatment, and are much more likely to complain about substandard care.
From a commercial perspective, there is increased activity amongst the big hospital chains and conglomerates looking to expand into new and emerging markets in Asia -- namely in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and also Laos. Larger hospital chains and primary care facilities (often owned by multinationals) continually seek to attract foreign doctors and treat expats, making it harder for smaller, uninsured clinics to compete. Practitioners are flocking to the big hospitals, where top of the range facilities, treatments and liability coverage awaits.
The Western POV
In the West, medical malpractice lawsuits are quite common, and healthcare workers cover themselves with malpractice insurance, which is typically a legal requirement.
In the US, the concept of negligent referral is well established, meaning that GPs can be partly held responsible for poor care at the hands of third parties.
In Australia, the majority of medical professionals are required to hold compulsory insurance, so while they may have to spend time defending themselves, their insurance coverage helps in dealing with the legal expenses.
Your POV
So how do you protect yourself against malpractice exposures?
You might think that the best way to avoid malpractice lawsuits is to simply provide the best possible care that you can for your patients, but unfortunately even that won’t scare off legal action.
Protect yourself with medical malpractice insurance coverage. Should the worst happen, it can potentially save your livelihood and may even help attract patients in this increasingly competitive healthcare marketplace.
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