Anwar, M., Mostafa, E., Shehata, S., Abd ElHafeez, S., ali, N. (2023). Medicolegal Liability and Telemedicine Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic: Egyptian Physicians' Perspectives. Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 21(1), 190-207. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2022.182537.1134
Marwa M. Anwar; Enas M A Mostafa; Shaimaa A. Shehata; Samar Abd ElHafeez; nahed M ali. "Medicolegal Liability and Telemedicine Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic: Egyptian Physicians' Perspectives". Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 21, 1, 2023, 190-207. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2022.182537.1134
Anwar, M., Mostafa, E., Shehata, S., Abd ElHafeez, S., ali, N. (2023). 'Medicolegal Liability and Telemedicine Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic: Egyptian Physicians' Perspectives', Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 21(1), pp. 190-207. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2022.182537.1134
Anwar, M., Mostafa, E., Shehata, S., Abd ElHafeez, S., ali, N. Medicolegal Liability and Telemedicine Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic: Egyptian Physicians' Perspectives. Zagazig Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 2023; 21(1): 190-207. doi: 10.21608/zjfm.2022.182537.1134
Medicolegal Liability and Telemedicine Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic: Egyptian Physicians' Perspectives
1forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, suez canal university, ismailia, Egypt
2forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
3Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt.
4department of epidemiology, higher institute of public health, Alexandria university, Alexandria, Egypt
5forensic medicine and clinical toxicology department, faculty of medicine, Suez canal university
Abstract
Abstract Introduction: During COVID-19 pandemic, physicians faced diverse medicolegal dilemmas, and they found themselves increasingly involved in the practice of telemedicine; which by itself entails many ethical and medicolegal concerns. Aim of work: To ameliorate medicolegal liability and malpractice suits during future pandemics through assessment of perception/attitude of Egyptian physicians towards medicolegal liability of practicing medicine during COVID-19 pandemic and exploring their perception/attitude & practice of telemedicine during COVID 19 pandemic. Participants & methods: We conducted an online survey among 385 Egyptian physicians of variable specialties; which focused on two challenging issues; 1) medicolegal liability of medical practice during the pandemic, and 2) telemedicine. Results: Our results showed that 62 % believed that physicians should be given legal protections in the form of a total exemption from medico-legal liability during COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, 77% agreed that sharing patients' data on social media may subject them to legal risk. About 63% practiced telemedicine during the pandemic; where 58% declared that it subjects physicians to medicolegal liability in case of malpractice, 57% approved requiring a specific license and 76% approved requiring training, while 37% believed that telemedicine practice doesn't require informed consent. There was a positive moderate correlation between total score of both sections of our questionnaire (r= =0.35, p < 0.0001). Logistic regression models showed that regarding physicians’ opinions about telemedicine; their specialty and working in COVID-19 triage were statistically significant predictors. Conclusion: Our study draws attention to the need to propose reform plans to address such challenges during the current COVID-19 pandemic and future possible pandemics, not only on a national level, but also globally. Keywords: COVID 19, Egyptian physicians, ethical, medicolegal, pandemic, telemedicine
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