Medicolegal issues affecting anaesthesiologists in Malaysia: an overview

Medicolegal issues have a significant impact on the practice of anaesthesiologists worldwide. Current trends indicates that although anaesthesiologists are less likely to be sued compared to other specialities, the payouts by anaesthesiologists are huge due to the high cost associated with the long-term management of patients with cerebral palsy and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. The impact on anaesthesiologists is acknowledged, with many societies worldwide taking various steps to address them, such as the Second Victim Programme by the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists. This aims to address some of the potential mental health issues affecting anaesthesiologists facing the aftermath of a poor clinical outcome and subsequently having to deal with the process of litigation. Various solutions have been addressed to acknowledge medicolegal issues in Malaysia, such as mediation as a way forward for dispute resolution. However, solutions such as this will take time for widespread adoption, and as such, the impact will not be immediately felt. It is far better for anaesthesiologists to be proactive in having increased awareness of the challenges associated with litigation via comprehensive medicolegal education.