의료과오소송에서 손해배상에 관한 연구
A Study on Compensation for Damages in Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
조민석(서남대학교)
4권 2호, 151~181쪽
초록
한 동안 유명가수가 의료사고로 사망하여 언론에 많은 보도를 하게 되고 일반인도 많은 관심을 보이게 되었다. 의료과오소송은 다른 소송과 달리 많은 특수한 점을 가지고 있다. 의료행위 자체가 인간을 대상으로 하는 행위이기 때문에 다른 특수 불법행위와도 다른 특수한 점이 존재한다. 또한 고도의 훈련된 전문적인 사람이 의학을 기본으로 하는 행위이기 때문에 일반인은 접근이 용이하지 않고, 이해도 힘든 분야이다. 그래서 의료사고에 관계되는 소송역시 일반인은 많은 어려움이 있어 전문 변호사의 도움이 필요하다. 의료사고가 발생하면 당사자 간에 협의를 하든지, 협의가 안 되면 결국소송으로 가게 되는데, 이 때 환자에게 입증곤란이란 문제에 부디 치게 된다. 그래서 의료행위에서 발생하는 의사의 책임의 법적성질을 계약불이행책임으로 볼 것인가 아니면 불법행위책임으로 볼 것인가 문제 된다. 불법행위책임으로 보면 입증을 원고가 하는 것이 원칙이고 계약불이행책임으로 보면 상대가 입증책임을 부담하기 때문에 환자 측의 입증의 어려움을 어느 정도 해결 할 수 있을 것이다. 국회는 이런 문제를 해결하기 위해 국회에서 입법이 활발한 논의 끝에 결국 2011. 04. 07에 법률 제10566호(의료사고 피해구제 및 의료분쟁 조정 등에 관한 법률)를 제정하기에 이르렀다. 처음 이 법은 의료사고 피해구제를 위하여 발의되었으나, 정부 주도로 의사들을 위한 법으로 변질되어 제정되었다. 2016년에 신ㅇㅇ 법이라고 불리면서 내용 중 환자 측이 조정을 신청하여도 예전에는 의사가 거절하면 조정이 이루어지지 않아 결국 소송으로 갈 수 밖에 없었는데, 개정을 통하여 의사가 거절하여도 조정위원호의 직권으로 조정을 할 수 있게 하였다. 본 논문에서는 의료과오소송에서 손해배상의 문제를 살펴보기 위하여 제1장에서 의의와 우리나라 입법례, 제2장에서 의료행위의 특수성과 입증의 곤란의 문제, 제3장에서 손해배상에 관한 이론, 제4장에서 손해배상의 범위 등을 서술하기로 한다.
Abstract
This paper is about "A Study on Compensation for Damages in Medical Malpractice Lawsuits". It seems that such tendency is influenced by promoted consciousness of patients in their right, collapse of reliability on medical service, and increased opportunities of legal structures. The damages to patients due to medical services are called medical accidents in medical services and only the faults are caused by doctors(medical institutes) are called medical faults. As they are provided to improve patients' health or treat their diseases even though medical services accompany invasion to human bodies. There are many precedents that blame liability on illegal behaviors. it is difficult for patient to demonstrate the imperfectness of the medical service because he is not professional. When a doctor or other health care professional makes a mistake that ends up causing harm to a patient, that error can (though it doesn’t always) lead to a viable medical malpractice claim. So let's assume that you’ve done a little research, you believe in your case, and so does your lawyer. Keep in mind that establishing a doctor’s liability for harm to a patient is a complex process, and you and your legal team are going to be in for a fight. So let’s look at what it takes to prove a medical malpractice case. The majority of medical malpractice lawsuits reach settlement before a verdict is reached at trial. But medical malpractice lawsuits do reach the trial phase a little more often the most injury-related cases, since health care professionals (and their insurers) tend to dig in their heels and demonstrate more of a willingness to let things play out in court. That means you don't have to pay your attorney a representation fee unless the case reaches a favorable outcome for you, meaning you receive a settlement (before trial) or a jury rules in your favor (after trial). If a favorable outcome is reached, the attorney will receive an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement or judgment (usually around 33 percent). You may have to pay expenses associated with your case, regardless of whether you win or lose, so be sure you understand the fine print of any contract you sign. If this problem is abandoned and offenses and defenses between the doctor and the patient are observed, equity and fairness pursued by the civil procedure can not be achieved. Meanwhile, if a disadvantage is given to the doctor in the lawsuit in consideration of non-professional aspect of the patient, it is also unfair. this study is to parallel a comparative analysis and a review on precedents in consideration of reality of the problem. Medical malpractice lawsuits are usually based upon a claim that a health care provider was negligent. To establish negligence, the plaintiff(patients) must prove the practitioner’s actions fell below the accepted standard of care, i.e., the degree of care a reasonable, similarly qualified health care provider would have provided under the same or similar circumstances. Establishing that a provider’s actions fell below the standard of care often involves the expert testimony of other health care professionals in the same field of medicine. Frequently patients are unconscious when the negligent act occurs or there is insufficient documentation regarding the health care practitioner’s participation during the medical procedure. When this is the case, it may be difficult to prove negligence, even with the assistance of experts. In such circumstances, some states allow patients to rely on a legal doctrine called “res ipsa loquitur” to establish liability. In conclusion, It should be amended that "Act on remedies of Medical malpractice and adjustment of medical dispute" be to include “res ipsa loquitur” Consider an Out-of-Court Settlement Medical malpractice cases can be timely and costly, which is why most medical malpractice cases are settled out of court. In addition, because medical malpractice insurance companies reject a significantly large portion of medical malpractice claims, it may be in your best interest to settle out-of-court or risk having no case at all. Keep in mind, however, that if you believe you have a strong case, then you should seek a larger settlement. Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney Finding a qualified medical malpractice attorney can mean the difference between receiving compensation for your injuries and walking away empty-handed. An experienced attorney will be able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case and advise you on a course of action moving forward. A good first step in finding the right attorney is to get a free claim evaluation from a medical malpractice lawyer.
- 발행기관:
- 사단법인 한국법이론실무학회
- 분류:
- 법학