Excessive Exploitation of Medical Errors – When Seeking Justice Becomes a Means of Profit

Excessive Exploitation of Medical Errors – When Seeking Justice Becomes a Means of Profit

Excessive Exploitation of Medical Errors – When Seeking Justice Becomes a Means of Profit

Excessive Exploitation of Medical Errors – When Seeking Justice Becomes a Means of Profit

Medical errors are an undeniable reality in healthcare systems. They often result from negligence, work pressure, or communication breakdowns among medical teams. It is only natural for those harmed to seek fair compensation. However, in some cases, this legitimate course turns into an opportunity for exploitation and exaggerated claims, opening a complex and sensitive file that requires attention and awareness from society and the justice system.

The Difference between a Medical Error and Expected Complications

Many people confuse an actual medical error, which results from unprofessional behavior or deviation from protocol, with the expected complications that can occur with any medical procedure—even when it is performed correctly. This confusion may lead to unjust blame on doctors for outcomes beyond their control and opens the door for patients or their families to demand compensation without a solid medical basis.

Examples of Exploitation

Some countries have witnessed legal cases filed by patients claiming medical errors, but investigations later revealed that some of these cases were based on distorted facts or withheld information.

For instance, in one case, it turned out that the patient had not informed the doctor about a chronic medical condition, which affected the surgical outcome—but still blamed the hospital entirely. In another case, the family of a patient who died following a complex heart surgery demanded a large compensation, despite having signed a consent form that clearly stated the potential risks and mortality rates.

Negative Consequences of Exploitation

Excessive exploitation of medical error claims not only harms medical institutions, but also undermines public trust in the healthcare system. It places emotional and professional pressure on medical staff and leads some doctors to avoid complex cases out of fear of legal repercussions.

Additionally, this trend contributes to the rising cost of health insurance, as insurance companies raise premiums to cover losses from exaggerated legal claims.

The Importance of Balance and Justice

It is essential to have a fair and transparent system for investigating medical errors—one that grants justice to the harmed patient without wrongfully accusing or defaming medical professionals without solid evidence. Legal authorities and medical experts must cooperate to determine whether the harm was caused by genuine negligence or by a medically documented and expected complication.

Defending patients’ rights is a duty, but exploiting medical errors for personal gain harms everyone and undermines the credibility of the entire healthcare system. What is needed is increased awareness, accurate identification of true medical errors, and the enhancement of objective investigation mechanisms—far from hasty or baseless accusations. Just as patients have rights, doctors too deserve protection from unjust claims.

Attorney / Mohamed Al Marzooqi
Mohamed Al Marzooqi advocates & Consultancy
Lawyer in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ajman UAE

“Excessive Exploitation of Medical Errors – When Seeking Justice Becomes a Means of Profit”