Ten medical negligence cases remain unresolved
Source: in-cyprus.com
Problems and gaps in procedures for investigating medical negligence claims in Cyprus are effectively nullifying the complaints process, an investigation has found.
Police investigations into such cases often remain “open” without resolution for extended periods, sometimes years, due to ineffective procedures.
Currently, there are at least 10 ongoing investigations nationwide concerning medical negligence complaints against both public and private sector doctors.
The police have indicated that medical officers appointed to assist investigations are sometimes uncooperative. Meanwhile, the State Health Services Organisation (SHSO) suggests that police request doctors’ assistance without compensating them for their services, noting that two years of discussions have yielded no resolution.
SHSO spokesman Pambos Charilou noted that medical negligence complaints have increased over the past five years, primarily because people paying into the national health system (GHS) are demanding better healthcare services. He added that court convictions against doctors and hospitals for medical negligence have encouraged more people to come forward.
Regarding the case of a 74-year-old Flasou resident who died at Larnaca Hospital after being admitted with coronavirus, Charilou said he was unaware of the specific case due to being on leave. He acknowledged that government doctors often face objective difficulties when investigating or testifying against colleagues.
The case has highlighted systemic issues, as three appointed medical officers have failed to assist in completing the police investigation. The investigation began after the patient’s death on 22 February 2022, with a post-mortem conducted four days later.
Following intervention by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis, police will now appoint a private expert from Greece to assist with the investigation. The move comes after multiple local medical officers either declined or withdrew from the case, with the latest citing personal reasons in June 2024.
Police are currently considering how to handle such cases more effectively, particularly in light of several pending investigations at Limassol CID. Officials emphasised that while not every hospital death implies medical negligence, bereaved families deserve timely conclusions to their complaints.
Charilou revealed that SHSO now has an agreement with a private insurance company covering all hospital doctors and staff for civil negligence claims, replacing previous state coverage. He also noted that complaints have increased to 5-7 annually, reflecting heightened public awareness and expectations under the national health system.
The original article: belongs to in-cyprus.com .
