TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2020//
TI  - Medical malpractice litigation related to choking accidents in older people in Japan
JO  - Gerodontology
A1  - Hamasaki, Tomoko
A1  - Hagihara, Akihito
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To analyse malpractice litigation cases in Japan and identify the factors related to choking accidents in older people.     BACKGROUND: Choking while eating is common in older people and has potentially severe consequences.     METHODS: This study analysed court decisions related to choking accidents occurring in Japan between 2000 and 2015 that involved the death of an older person or permanent severe choking-related injury. A database of court decisions (n = 23) was constructed according to patient and caregiver characteristics, and nursing services. An analysis was performed on caregiver liability, and to identify factors related to choking accidents.     RESULTS: The court ruled that the caregiver was liable in 10 of the 23 cases. Liability was related to appropriate food choices, failure to monitor of eating or the non-performance of resuscitation after an accident. Prior knowledge of aspiration (P < .001), inappropriate assistance during the meal (P < .001), and inappropriate emergency treatment (P = .028) were more likely to be present in cases in which caregivers were judged liable than in those in which they were not.     CONCLUSIONS: Lack of appropriate assistance during the meal was the factor most strongly associated with a court ruling of caregiver liability for choking accidents in older people.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0734-0664
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ger.12506
ID  - ref1
ER  -