WARENESS Of MEDICO LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND HANDLING MLCs AMONG INTERNS AND POSTGRADUATES : A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Medical Legal Cases (MLCs) are critical in medical practice, requiring healthcare professionals to have a solid understanding of legal responsibilities and protocols. Despite the importance of MLC knowledge, the level of awareness among medical interns and postgraduates remains unclear. Objective: This study aims to assess the awareness and understanding of MLC-related knowledge among medical interns and postgraduate students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 140 young medical practitioners Methods: (117 Interns and 23 postgraduates) from Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire covered key areas such as the legal denition of MLCs, Legal implications of medical practice, Informed Consent, Documentation procedures, MLC topics covered in their Curriculum and awareness of medico-legal responsibilities such as Condentiality etc. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and results were presented through pie charts to depict the distribution of responses. The ndings revea Results: l that large proportion of interns and PGs exhibited signicant knowledge in specic areas such as Informed Consent, documentation and legal responsibilities. Yet many of the interns and pgs were not condent enough while dealing Medico-legal cases. Majority of them suggested to increase the MLC knowledge in their curriculum. The study underscores the need for Conclusion: enhanced education and training on MLCs within medical curriculam. Incorporating structured medico-legal modules and regular workshops can bridge knowledge gaps, ensuring that future healthcare professionals are well-equipped to manage MLCs effectively.
Authors: Chikkala Naveen, Kothapalli Jaswitha
Language: English
Subfield: Pharmacy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410033680