On the Theory of Loss of Chance – Loss of Chance for Recovery or Survival
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Abstract
In order to facilitate the procedural-legal position of an injured patient in medical malpractice lawsuits, courts in various countries allow certain deviations from general rules for burden of proof and grant patients specific evidentiary reliefs. One way to strengthen the patient’s position in lawsuits against doctors is the application of the theory of loss of chance. In this paper, the authors will analyse the application of loss of chance theory in the US and European case law. They will demonstrate that the theory has been increasingly accepted since it first appeared, though many countries still refuse to apply it. The authors conclude that one of the goals of the theory of loss of chance is its preventative effect on healthcare professionals, as it further encourages them to exercise maximum care and caution in their treatment of patients, thereby restoring trust in the doctor-patient relationship.
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