Kræftpatienters anmeldelse af skader til Patientforsikringen

English summary
Patients are at risk of experiencing adverse events during contact with the health care
system and cancer patients are considered at higher risk due to the character of diagnostic
and treatment processes. Patients and relatives have since 1992 the right to apply
for economic compensation by the Patient Insurance Association for injury caused by the
diagnostic and treatment activities.
Decisions from the Patient Insurance Association are based on specific criteria which
continuously are adjusted according to new evidence, decisions from similar cases and
decisions from the appeals board and court decisions.
As the cases from the Patients Insurance Association can contribute to knowledge about
character and consequence of injury in the cancer pathway the Cancer Society contacted
the Patient Insurance Association. Collaboration was set up aiming at analyzing
10 years cases from cancer patients to picture the pattern of injury to this patient group
and also to analyze the pattern of economic compensation approved for cancer patients
according to different criteria.
The analysis confirms that cancer patients receive economic compensation to a lesser
degree compared to other patient groups. However this pattern is also seen in other very
serious diseases and the praxis of decisions are in accordance with praxis from court
trials.
Moreover the analysis shows that the number of applications for economic compensation
has increased during the last 10 years, and that many of those do not include a specific
injury and therefore cannot be accepted for compensation by the Patient Insurance Association.
This shows that more information is needed about criteria for approval of economic
compensation.
The data from the Patient Insurance Association is found to contribute to knowledge
about risk in cancer care which can add to other data sources. Decisions from the Patient
insurance Association can influence quality and safety in the health care system
and should be included in improving activities.
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