Lessons from the MOHW compensation pilot program on birth incidents: First step and looking forward.

OBJECTIVE: In Taiwan, the number of medical disputes and litigation has increased dramatically over the past 20 years. The seriousness of medical disputes continuing grows in clinical practice, especially in obstetricians. This study provided a possible solution to the medical dispute litigation issue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) compensation program for birth incidents has been implemented since 2012 and it provided pecuniary compensation for mothers, newborns, and fetuses who got injured or died in birth-related medical incidents. We analyzed the amount and distribution of compensation, and assessed the effect of compensation on the number of medical dispute litigation.

RESULTS: From 2012 to 2015, a total of 348 applications was received, 322 of which were examined by the committee. Among the examined cases, 278 were approved for compensation. The total amount of compensation had reached 266.16 million NTD (8.32 million USD). For the medical dispute litigation, a dramatic decrease in number was observed after the implementation of this compensation pilot program.

CONCLUSION: Prompt compensation provided instant economic and spiritual support for patients and families. Pecuniary compensation could be an alternative choice of justice, which might encourage the injured to receive economic compensation, instead of filing a lawsuit against the physician or hospital institution. As a result, the number of dispute litigation has decreased. This indicates that the compensation program is an efficient way to improve medical dispute litigation difficulties.