The Effect of Litigation on the Health Care Delivery System in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, South East, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim; To assess the effect of litigation on the health care delivery system in the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, South East, Nigeria. Method; A total of 300 heath care workers comprising 274 medical doctors and 26 Nurses working at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTTH) were studied during the period February to June 2021. Their ages, number of years of practice and designations were taken. They were questioned on their perception of the effect of litigation on the health care delivery system in the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital. Results; Table 3.shows a total of 140(46.7%) of respondents either strongly disagree (18) or disagree (122) that litigation leads to limited access to healthcare while 128 (42.67) either agree (118) or strongly agree (10) that litigation leads to limited access to health care. A total number of 211(70.3%) either agree (149) or strongly agree (62) that the cost of healthcare is increased due to effects of litigation. A total of 215 (71.67%) either agree (84) or strongly agree (131) that doctors tend to offer more investigations than needed in order to forestall any possibility of litigation. Finally, 203(67.67%) either agree (94) or strongly agree (109) that doctors tend to offer more treatment than is needed in order to forestall any possibility of litigation. Conclusion; The results show that the greatest proportion of respondents(71.67%) agree that doctors tend to offer more investigations than needed in order to forestall any possibility of litigation. And 67.67% strongly agree and agree that doctors tend to offer more treatment than is needed in order to forestall any possibility of litigation. This result shows that excessive pressure is put on the Doctors, Pharmacists and Laboratory Scientists of the hospital as well as the medical equipment, drugs and other facilities in the hospital. All these put excessive pressure on the health care delivery system of the hospital bec

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