医疗纠纷预防和处理 (yīliáo jiūfēn yùfáng hé chǔlǐ): Preventing and handling medical disputes by rules

The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a regulation on the prevention and settlement of medical disputes, which will take effect on Oct 1, in a bid to safeguard the interests of both medical staff and patients.

The number of medical disputes has been increasing in recent years with the continuous growth of medical services, and some of the medical disputes have intensified into attacks on medical staff. Medical disputes not only undermine the legal rights and interests of medical practitioners and patients, but also disturb normal hospital order.

The regulation, aimed at maintaining order and security in medical institutions, stipulates that diagnosis and treatment should be centered on patients, and health professionals should enhance their compassionate care and abide by professional ethics.

It also requires, by way of strengthening daily oversight of medical security, improving risk prevention and control in key stages of medical services and highlighting the importance of doctor-patient communication, to prevent such disputes at the source.

It clarifies the principles, approaches and procedures for medical dispute settlements, while emphasizing the role of people's mediation in resolving medical disputes.

The regulation also stipulates the legal consequences of violations, such as issuing false laboratory reports or distributing inaccurate information when there is a medical dispute.