The Standards of Proof in Medical Malpractice Cases

  • Nina Cek Odvetniška družba Nina Cek o.p., d.o.o.
Keywords: medical malpractice, expert evidence, standards of proof, no-fault system, civil procedure rules

Abstract

The article examines the procedural aspect of medical malpractice cases. It focuses on the differences in standards of proof by first explaining the characteristics of the Slovenian legal system and then comparing it with German and English legal systems. The author sheds light on the approach of the EU court on the question of the responsibility of the manufacturer for the product (vaccine) and suggests the direction to use a broader framework for the evaluation of evidence and presumptions. Given the disclosed problems of proving through the help of a medical expert, the article emphasizes the importance of respect for human rights in civil proceedings. Particular emphasis is also placed on no-fault systems and the question is raised of how the introduction of such a system into the Slovenian legal system would affect the perceived problem of proving a medical error and informed consent omission.

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Author Biography

Nina Cek, Odvetniška družba Nina Cek o.p., d.o.o.

Koper, Slovenia. E-mail: nina@cek.si.

References

Davies, S. (2009) Proof on the Balance of Probabilities: What This Means in Practice, retrieved from: https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/2-500-6576?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true (11 September 2020).

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Legislation

Council Directive of 25 July 1985 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning liability for defective products (85/374/EEC), Official Journal of the European Communities No L 210/29.

Obligacijski zakonik (Code of Obligations) (OZ): Ur. l. RS, no. 97/07, 64/16 and 20/18.

Pravilnik o obrazcih o pisnih izjavah volje pacienta (Rules on the forms of written statements of the patient's will): Ur. l. RS, no. 82/08 and 84/08.

Zakon o nalezljivih boleznih (Infectious Diseases Act) (ZNB): Ur. l. RS, no. 33/06 – official consolidated text and 49/20- ZIUZEOP).

Zakon o pacientovih pravica (Patients' Rights Act) (ZPacP): Ur. l. RS, no. 15/08 and 55/17.

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Zakon o pravdnem postopku (Civil Procedure Act) (ZPP): Ur. l. RS, št. 73/07 - official consolidated text, 45/08 - ZArbit, 45/08, 111/08 - US decision, 57/09 - US decision, 12/10 - decision US, 50/10 - US, 107/10 - US, 75/12 - US, 40/13 - US, 92/13 - US, 10/14 - US, 48/15 - US decision, 6/17 - US decision, 10/17, 16/19 - ZNP-1 and 70/19 - US decision.

Case law

Decision II Ips 182/2013 of 24 April 2014, available at: http://www.sodisce.si/vsrs/odlocitve/2012032113066098/ (11 September 2020).

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Judgment II Ips 153/2009 of 8 September 2011, available at: http://sodisce.si/vsrs/odlocitve/2010040815260881/ (11 September 2020).

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Judgment II Ips 183/2015 of 12 March 2015, available at: http://sodisce.si/vsrs/odlocitve/2015081111389708/ (11 September 2020).

Judgment II Ips 402/2007 of 13 May 2010, available at: http://sodisce.si/vsrs/odlocitve/2012032113062548/ (11 September 2020).

Judgment II Ips 436/2005 of 21 June 2007, (available at: http://www.sodisce.si/vsrs/odlocitve/11006/ (11 September 2020).

Judgment of Šilih v Republic of Slovenia of 4 September 2009, (available at: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-92142%22]} (11 September 2020).

N.W., L.W., C.W. v. Sanofi Pasteur MSD SNC, C-621/15 of 21 June 2017, ECLI:EU:C:2017:484, available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62015CJ0621 (11 September 2020).

Published
2020-10-29
How to Cite
Cek N. (2020). The Standards of Proof in Medical Malpractice Cases. Medicine, Law & Society, 13(2), 173-196. https://doi.org/10.18690/mls.13.2.173-196.2020
Section
Articles